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JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


Final  Report  of  \V^ar  Emergency 

ActlVltlCiS 


NEW    V(;.5i,;K 
1920 


GIFT  OF 


JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


Final  Report  of  War  Emergency 
Activities       j 


NEW  YORK 
1920 


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GIFT 


CONTENTS 

Page 
Foreword    7 

Letter  of  General  Pershing 8 

Minutes  of  Meeting,  October  24,  1920 9 

Report  of  the  Executive  Committee 13 

Program  of  Future  Work  of  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board — Justice  Irving  Lehman 94 


Resolution  Authorizing  Amalgamation 9 


Memorial  Address  on  Llarry  Cutler — Louis   Mar- 
shall, Esq 98 

Jacob  H.  Schiff,  In  Memoriam 107 

Financial  Statement 108 

Executive  Committee  and  Officers 113 

Office  and  Field  Personnel 116 

Community  Branches  and  Chairmen 124 


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FOREWORD 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  organized  April  9,  1917, 
three  days  after  the  Declaration  of  War,  was  founded 
by  the  Jews  of  the  United  States  with  the  sanction 
and  recognition  of  the  government,  as  their  instru- 
mentality for  contributing  to  the  preservation  of  the 
morale  and  welfare  of  the  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines. 

In  the  following  pages  is  presented  an  account  of 
the  Board's  activities  from  the  time  of  the  signing  of 
the  Armistice,  through  the  period  of  demobilization, 
to  October  1,  1920. 

A  narrative  of  the  Board's  activities  must  neces- 
sarily convey  but  an  inadequate  picture  of  the  entire 
welfare  enterprise.  Facts  and  figures  portray  the 
undertaking  as  impersonal  and  detached.  In  truth,  it 
was  vitalized  by  the  warmest  feelings  of  personal 
interest  and  solicitude. 

The  facts  and  figures  set  forth  here  are  significant, 
however,  as  the  expression  of  the  great  enthusiasm 
and  inspiraton  of  the  men  and  women  of  American 
Jewry  who,  in  the  camps  and  communities  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  laboring  loyally  in  America's 
cause,  wrought  among  the  enlisted  men  benefits  which 
strengthened  their  morale  and  helped  to  prepare  them 
for  their  task. 

At  a  previous  meeting  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board, 
on  November  24,  1918,  a  report  was  submitted  which 
dealt  with  the  organization  of  the  Board  and  its 
welfare  service  during  the  mobilization,  encampment 
and  movement  of  troops  to  France,  up  to  the  signing 
of  the  Armistice.  In  the  present  report  brief  reference 
is  also  made  to  the  matters  treated  in  the  earlier 
report  and  both  constitute  the  complete  record  of  the 
war  emergency  welfare  service  of  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board. 


AMERICAN   EXPEDITIONARY  FORCES 

Office  of  the  Commander-in-Chief 

France,  April  18,  1919. 

Colonel  Harry  Cutler, 
Chairman,  Jewish  Welfare  Board, 
41  Boulevard  Haussman,  Paris. 

My  dear  Colonel  Cutler : 

I  wish  to  express  to  you  my  appreciation,  and  that  of  the  officers 
and  men  of  my  command,  for  the  splendid  services  rendered  to 
the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  by  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board. 

The  activities  of  your  organization  in  France  commenced  in  the 
summer  of  1918,  with  the  opening  of  a  club  room  in  Paris  to 
which  American  soldiers,  irrespective  of  creed,  were  welcomed. 
Handicapped  by  lack  of  personnel  and  facilities,  your  representa- 
tives, during  the  remaining  months  of  hostilities,  did  valuable 
work  among  the  soldiers  of  the  Jewish  faith  and  others,  taking 
advantage  of  the  opportunities  offered  by  the  larger  welfare 
agencies  to  keep  our  soldiers  in  touch  with  their  religion  and  their 
homes. 

Since  the  signing  of  the  armistice  you  have  grasped  the  oppor- 
tunity for  increased  recreational  facilities,  and  have  increased 
your  personnel,  opened  additional  club  rooms  at  important  centers, 
and  shown  a  commendable  eagerness  to  co-operate  with  the  Army 
and  the  other  welfare  societies  and  to  bear  your  full  share  of  the 
responsibility  for  keeping  up  this  important  work  until  all  troops 
can  be  returned  to  America. 

Will  you  please  accept  this  letter  as  an  expression  of  my  appre- 
ciation to  you  personally,  and  to  all  those  at  home  and  abroad  who 
have  co-operated  with  and  supported  you  so  splendidly. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

[Signed]       John  J.  Pershing 


MINUTES  OF  MEETING 

JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

October  24.  1920 


The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board 
was  held  at  the  Jewish  Center,  131  West  86th  Street, 
New  York  City,  on  Sunday,  October  24th,  1920,  at  2 
P.  M.  Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  acting  chairman,  presided 
and  the  following  members  were  present : 

Henry  J.  Bernheim,  Joseph  Rosenzweig,  Walter  E. 
Sachs,  Charles  Hartman,  Israel  Unterberg,  Bernard 
Semel,  Abram  I.  Elkus,  Louis  Marshall,  Irving  Leh- 
man, Benjamin  Washer  of  the  Louisville  Branch, 
Leon  Obermayer  of  the  Philadelphia  Branch,  Mrs. 
P.  Galinsky  of  the  Utica,  N.  Y.,  Branch,  Rabbi  F.  L. 
Rosenthal  of  the  Columbus,  Ga.,  Branch,  Joseph  Hor- 
mats  of  the  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Branch,  Maurice  Beck  of  the 
Patchogue,  N.  Y.  Branch,  I.  Weitzenkorn  of  the 
Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  Branch,  Maurice  Krohngold  of  the 
Akron  Branch,  Felix  M.  Warburg,  representing  the 
Y.  M.  H.  &  K.  A.,  Dr.  Samuel  Shulman,  representing 
the  Central  Conference  of  American  Rabbis,  Isadore 
Feintuch,  representing  the  I.  O.  B.  S.,  Rabbi  Nathan 
Stern  representing  the  N.  Y.  Board  of  Jewish  Min- 
isters, Jacob   Billikopf,   Edward  J.   Steinam. 

Regrets  at  their  inability  to  attend  were  received 
from: 

Secretary  of  War  Baker,  Secretary  of  Navy  Daniels, 
Mortimer  L.  Schiff,  Rabbi  Edward  N.  Calisch. 

Dr.  Elias  Solomon  delivered  the  following  invoca- 
tion: 

"Sovereign  Ruler  of  the  Universe  in  Whose  hands 
rest  the  destinies  of  men  and  of  nations:  Look  down 


•,»  •  • ••  v 

*    *  •  •    •  »• 


10  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

from  Thy  holy  habitation  on  our  beloved  country,  and 
in  Thy  mercy  guide  it  and  preserve  it  in  safety  and 
happiness.  Vouchsafe  unto  it  every  manner  of  good. 
Give  it  of  Thy  bounty,  of  the  dew  of  heaven  and  of  the 
fatness  of  the  earth.  Cause  all  within  its  borders  to 
dwell  in  harmony  and  in  peace  with  one  another  and 
to  seek  one  another's  well-being  and  the  good  of  their 
common  land.  Bless  the  constituted  authorities  of 
these  United  States.  Be  with  them,  direct  and  guide 
them  in  their  counsels  and  their  undertakings.  Endow 
them  with  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  understanding  that 
they  may  labor  and  uphold  the  peace  of  the  land  and 
advance  the  welfare  of  the  nation  and  the  happiness 
of  all  mankind. 

May  our  beloved  country  ever  be  the  home  of  justice 
and  of  freedom,  the  abode  of  equality  and  brotherly 
love. 

Be  Thou  a  shield  about  us  and  remove  from  us 
every  enemy,  pestilence,  sword,  famine  and  sorrow. 
O  shelter  us  beneath  the  shadow  of  Thy  wings ;  for 
Thou,  O  God,  art  our  Guardian  and  our  Deliverer. 
Guard  our  going  out  and  our  coming  in  unto  life  and 
unto  peace  from  this  time  forth  and  for  ever  more. 
Spread  the  canopy  of  Thy  peace  over  this  land,  over 
Israel  and  over  all  mankind.    Amen." 

In  beginning  the  proceedings,  Dr.  Adler  spoke 
feelingly  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Cutler. 

A  memorial  address  on  the  late  Colonel  Cutler  was 
delivered  by  Mr.  Louis  Marshall. 

A  motion  was  made  that  the  memorial  be  entered  as 
a  part  of  the  minutes  and  preserved  in  the  records  of 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  and  a  copy  be  sent  to  the 
family.  Hon.  Abram  i.  Elkus  seconded  this  motion 
and  it  was  unanimously  adopted  by  a  rising  vote. 

Dr.  Adler  presented  the  report  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  covering  the  period  from  November,  1918, 


MINUTES  OF  MEETING— OCTOBER  24,  I92O  11 

to  date.     Upon  motion,  the  report  of  the  Executive 
Committee  was  received  and  ordered  printed. 

In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Mortimer  L.  Schiff,  Chairman 
of  the  Finance  Committee,  Dr.  Adler  read  the  financial 
statement  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  up  to  Septem- 
ber 30,  1920.  Upon  motion  the  financial  statement  was 
received  and  approved. 

Judge  Irving  Lehman  submitted  the  report  of  the 
Joint  Conference  Committee  regarding  the  proposed 
amalgamation  with  the  Council  of  Y.  M.  H.  &  K.  A. 
and  referring  to  the  future  work  of  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board.  He  presented  a  resolution  authorizing  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  to  take  the  neces- 
sary steps  to  perfect  the  amalgamation. 

The  Chairman  read  a  telegram  from  Mr.  Mortimer 
L.  Schiff,  expressing  the  hope  that  the  proposed  con- 
solidation would  be  favorably  considered. 

Dr.  Samuel  Shulman  moved  that  the  Committee's 
report  be  accepted  and  the  resolution  adopted.  The 
motion  was  seconded  and  was  unanimously  carried. 

The  Chairman  appointed  the  following  Committee 
on  Nominations :  Judge  Irving  Lehman,  Leon  J.  Ober- 
mayer,  Edward  J.  Steinam  to  suggest  individuals  to 
succeed  the  members  of  the  Board,  whose  terms 
expired  in  1919  and  1920  and  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  death  of  Colonel  Cutler.  The  Committee  on 
Nominations   made   the  following   recommendations: 

For  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  serve 
until  1922 : 

Walter  E.  Sachs  Boris  D.  Bogen 

I.  Edwin  Goldwasser  Maurice  H.  Harris 

Louis  E.  Kirstein  Bernard  Semel 
Carl  Dreyfus 


12  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

For  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  serve 
until  1923: 

Joseph  Rosenzweig  Charles  Hartraan 

Henry  J.  Bernhcim  Morris  Wolf 

William  Rosenau  Morris  Rothenberg 

Israel  Unterberg 

To  fill  the  term  of  Colonel  Cutler  ending  1921 
William  Fischman 

There  being  no  other  nominations,  upon  motion  the 
Secretary  v^^as  directed  to  cast  one  ballot  for  the 
nominees  of  the  Committee  on  Nominations,  which 
he  did,  thereupon  announcing  the  election  of  the 
persons  named. 

Upon  motion,  a  minute  w^as  unanimously  adopted, 
expressing  the  profound  sorrow  of  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  on  the  death  of  Jacob  H.  Schiff. 

The  Chairman  extended  an  invitation  to  the  dele- 
gates of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  who  were  not  mem- 
bers of  the  Y.  M.  H.  &  K.  A.  to  attend  the  dinner 
of  the  Council  to  be  held  that  evening  at  the  Y.  M. 
H.  A,.  92nd  Street  and  Lexington  Avenue,  New  York 
City. 

Upon  motion  the  meeting  adjourned. 

A  motion  picture  of  the  activities  of  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  was  then  shown. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Joseph  Rosenzweig, 

Secretary. 


13 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 
Pre^sented  by  Dr.  C3nrus  Adler,  Acting  Chairman 


REVIEW  OF  MOBILIZATION  ACTIVITIES 

Your  Executive  Committee  begs  leave  to  submit  the 
following  report  of  the  activities  of  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  for  the  period  subsequent  to  the  previous  meet- 
ing of  the  organization  on  November  24,  1918. 

It  is  unnecessary  here  to  make  more  than  casual 
reference  to  the  matters  treated  in  the  earlier  report. 
As  stated  there,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  then 
known  as  the  Jewish  Board  for  Welfare  Work  was 
organized  at  a  meeting  of  representatives  of  prominent 
Jewish  national  organizations,  held  on  April  9,  1917. 

The  sanction  of  the  Government  to  conduct  welfare 
activities  within  the  camps  and  naval  stations  was 
subsequently  accorded  to  the  organization,  which 
thereafter  assumed  its  tasks  in  co-operation  with  and 
under  the  supervision  of  the  War  Department  Com- 
mission on  Training  Camp  Activities. 

Overcoming  the  many  obstacles  and  difficulties 
naturally  encountered  in  laying  the  early  foundations, 
actual  work  was  begun  in  the  camps  in  September, 
1917,  when,  following  the  mobilization  of  the  regular 
army  and  the  state  militia,  the  camps  of  the  country 
were  receiving  the  first  quotas  of  drafted  men. 

It  was  resolved  as  a  guiding  principle  to  extend 
the  service  of  the  organization  to  soldiers  and  sailors 
without  sectarian  restriction,  but  at  the  same  time 
to  make  adequate  provision  especially  for  the  needs 
of  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Jewish  faith,  whose 
particular  requirements  could  be  fulfilled  only  by  an 
understanding  Jewish  organization. 


14  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

The  growth  and  expansion  of  the  organiaztion  there- 
after followed  the  constantly  increasing  number  of 
men  called  into  service.  As  the  Board  had  from  the 
outset  maintained  a  flexible  organization  and  program, 
it  was  enabled  to  adapt  itself  readily  to  the  assumption 
of  the  additional  responsibilities  entailed  by  this  rapid 
mobilization.  The  executive  staff  at  National  Head- 
quarters was  enlarged.  A  school  for  the  training  of 
field  representatives  was  established.  The  service  of 
the  Board  was  extended  to  additional  military  and 
naval  posts.  Jewish  Welfare  Board  buildings  were 
erected  in  the  camps  as  homes  for  the  men  and  to 
supplement  existing  recreational  facilities. 

In  camp  and  community,  at  the  naval  posts  and 
among  the  crews  on  the  battleships,  on  the  Mexican 
Border  and  at  the  Canal  Zone,  among  Russian  recruits 
and  the  Student  Army  Training  Corps,  the  representa- 
tives of  the  organization  were  active  in  behalf  of  the 
men  in  uniform,  joining  with  the  workers  of  the  other 
welfare  agencies  in  helping  America  prepare  an 
efficient  army. 

The  welfare  service  of  the  Board  was  carefully 
designed  to  make  comprehensive  provision  for  the 
religious,  recreational,  educational  and  personal  ser- 
vice needs  of  the  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines. 

The  religious  program  was  complete  and  included 
daily  services,  Friday  evening.  Sabbath  and,  where  de- 
sired or  necessary,  Sunday  morning  services.  The 
High  Holidays  and  festivals  were  appropriately  cele- 
brated. Formal  religious  services  were  supplemented 
wherever  possible  by  biblical  discussions  and  study 
groups. 

The  "Star  of  David"  man,  as  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  representative  came  to  be  called,  was  a  source 
of  solace,  friendship  and  counsel  to  the  new  recruits 
coming  from  civilian  pursuits,  especially  to  those  of 
foreign  birth,  who  in  many  instances  found  it  difficult 


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REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        17 

to  adjust  themselves  to  military  life.  No  problem  of 
personal,  family,  business,  legal  or  military  nature  was 
too  insignificant  for  the  attention  of  the  representa- 
tives who  occupied  a  great  deal  of  their  time  in 
eliminating  the  worry,  homesickness  and  general  low- 
ering of  spiritual,  mental  and  physical  tone,  through 
personal  and  intimate  ministrations.  The  sick  and 
convalescent  at  the  hospitals  were  likewise  the  recip- 
ients of  every  attention. 

Classes  in  civics,  American  history  and  current 
events,  literary  meetings,  open  forums  and  lectures 
were  some  of  the  activities  conducted  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  enlisted  men. 

The  social  and  recreational  activities  undertaken 
by  the  Board,  alone  and  in  co-operation  with  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  Knights  of 
Columbus,  were  very  helpful  in  creating  a  wholesome, 
happy  spirit. 

In  the  communities,  Centers  were  established  as 
clubrooms  for  the  soldiers  and  sailors  for  their  use 
when  on  leave  in  town.  Entertainments  and  home 
hospitality  formed  an  important  part  of  the  communi- 
ties* contribution  to  their  welfare  and  happiness. 

At  the  various  affairs  and  sociables  in  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  huts  in  camp  and  at  the  Center  in 
town,  refreshments  and  delicacies  were  always  gen- 
erously distributed  to  all  men. 

Among  the  supplies,  also  furnished  free  to  the  men, 
were  prayer  books,  bibles,  stationery,  magazines,  Yid- 
dish and  English  books,  cigarettes,  matches  and  other 
articles,  statistics  of  which  are  listed  at  the  conclusion  ^ 
of  this  report. 

Overseas,  the  Board  before  the  signing  of  the 
Armistice  had  already  cleared  the  way,  over  many 
disappointments  and  difficulties,  for  extending  its  wel- 
fare activities  to  the  troops  in  France.  It  had  been 
the  wish  of  the  Allied  Military  authorities  that  the 


18  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

Jewish  Welfare  Board  should  not  have  a  distinct  and 
separate  organization,  because  of  the  scattered  units 
of  soldiers  of  Jewish  faith  and  because  of  the  diffi- 
culties involved  in  serving  a  moving  army  engaged 
in  active  warfare.  It  had  been  thought  best  previously 
to  have  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  and  some  other 
welfare  organizations  function  through  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
The  then-Chairman  of  the  Board,  the  late  Colonel 
Harry  Cutler,  while  in  France  was  successful  in  hav- 
ing an  independent  status  accorded  to  the  organization 
for  the  prosecution  of  its  activities. 

In  addition,  many  difficulties  relating  to  securing 
passports  for  w^orkers  had  confronted  the  Overseas 
Department.  It  was  almost  impossible  to  secure  suit- 
able workers  under  the  regulations  w^hich  excluded 
men  of  draft  age,  even  those  exempt  from  active  ser- 
vice, and  prohibited  the  consideration  of  applicants 
whose  parents  or  grand  parents  were  born  in  enemy 
countries.  It  finally  became  necessary  for  the  War 
and  State  Departments  to  intercede  in  behalf  of  this 
Board  to  secure  the  sanction  of  the  English  and 
French  Embassies  in  removing  these  prohibitive  re- 
strictions, so  that  workers  could  be  secured  for  whose 
loyalty  to  this  country  the  voucher  of  the  Chairman 
of  the  Board  was  sufficient. 

With  these  obstacles  overcome  and  official  recog- 
nition secured,  the  work  expanded  and  progressed 
rapidly. 

This  in  brief  outline  represents  the  status  of  the 
Board's  activities  when  the  Armistice  was  signed.  It 
will  be  my  pleasure  now  to  describe  in  greater  detail 
the  manner  in  which  the  organization  undertook  the 
responsibilities  which  devolved  upon  it  during  the 
Post-Armistice  period. 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        21 


POST-ARMISTICE— DOMESTIC  SERVICE 

The  cessation  of  hostilities  following  the  Armistice 
in  November  1918,  brought  increased  opportunities 
and  responsibility  to  the  welfare  agencies  both  here 
and  in  France.  The  stream  of  troops  from  the  United 
States  to  Europe  ceased  and  instead  the  men  began 
to  return  home.  Military  discipline  and  restraint  were 
relaxed  and  provided  the  men  with  greater  leisure. 

The  consequence  of  these  changed  conditions  was  a 
great  restlessness  on  the  part  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors. 
The  men  in  France  were  anxious  to  return  for  their 
discharge.  The  necessary  delays  in  transporting  back 
to  this  country  the  overseas  contingents,  added  to  the 
anxiety  and  impatience  of  the  men.  In  the  United 
States  the  discharge  of  many  men  could  not  be  quickh^ 
effected  because  it  was  necessary  to  maintain  skeleton 
organizations  to  receive  and  later  to  discharge  the 
men  returning  from  abroad. 

This  situation  made  necessary  the  modification  of 
the  camp  program  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  re- 
sulting in  varied  degrees  of  emphasis  being  placed 
on  the  welfare  activities  which  had  hitherto  been  con- 
ducted. In  addition,  the  introduction  of  new  activi- 
ties to  meet  the  altered  situation  w^as  imperative. 

Personal  Service 

The  personal  service  cases  which  were  brought  to 
the  attention  of  the  field  workers  under  the  new  con- 
ditions increased  in  number  and  became  more  diverse 
in  character.  In  the  past  personal  service  consisted 
in  a  great  measure  in  making  the  recruit  acquainted 
with  military  life,  and  in  looking  after  the  needs  of 
his  family.  The  problems  which  now  arose  were 
those  incidental  to  the  discharge  of  the  troops  and 
their   preparations    to   reassume    civilian    life. 

Men  returning  from  overseas  were  anxious  to  know 


22  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

about  business  conditions  in  the  United  States,  and 
opportunities  for  employment.  They  were  given  the 
latest  information  by  the  representatives  on  new  de- 
velopments in  the  fields  in  which  they  were  interested. 

The  men  had  to  be  informed  regarding  the  advisa- 
bility of  retaining  their  insurance,  and  the  procedure 
for  the  conversion  of  this  insurance,  if  so  desired. 
The  opportunities  which  the  Government  had  opened 
for  vocational  education  for  ex-service  men  were  also 
placed  before  the  soldiers  and  sailors.  They  were 
encouraged  to  retain  their  Liberty  Bonds  and  were 
told  what  procedure  they  were  to  follow  in  order  to 
secure  their  bonuses. 

The  function  and  assistance  of  the  U.  S.  Employ- 
ment Service  was  likewise  brought  to  their  attention. 
They  were  urged  to  return  promptly  to  their  home 
towns  after  their  discharge  and  save  their  pay  for  the 
time  that  might  elapse  before  a  job  was  secured.  The 
representatives  urged  the  enlisted  men  to  register  with 
the  agents  of  the  United  State  Employment  Service. 
In  many  instances  they  acted  as  the  agents  for  this 
organization,  securing  information  as  to  vocational 
preference  and  past  experience  of  the  soldiers  for  the 
use  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service. 

At  the  time  of  discharge  the  representatives  made 
certain  to  see  the  enlisted  man  before  he  left  camp  and 
gave  him  a  card  of  introduction  to  the  Chairman  of 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  Branch  in  his  own  com- 
munity or  the  town  to  which  he  was  going.  Com- 
munications were  often  sent  to  the  former  employer  of 
the  soldier  advising  him  of  the  latter's  forthcoming 
discharge  and  suggesting  his  re-engagement.  Pocket 
wallets  were  presented  to  the  enlisted  men  before  they 
left  camp,  as  a  farewell  souvenir  from  the  Board. 

In  order  to  enable  the  field  workers  to  supply  the 
men  with  the  most  authoritative  and  recent  informa- 
tion on  subjects  in  which  they  were  particularly  inter- 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        25 

ested,  an  Information  Bureau  was  established  at 
National  Headquarters.  This  Bureau  issued  on  the 
average  about  twenty  bulletins  monthly  on  subjects 
of  vital  concern  to  enlisted  and  discharged  men. 

At  the  request  of  the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  Insur- 
ance, the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  printed  pamphlets 
explaining  the  rights  of  the  soldiers,  sailors  and  ma- 
rines in  connection  with  insurance,  compensation  and 
allotments  and  outlining  in  easy,  understandable  form, 
the  requirements  which  had  to  be  fulfilled  in  order  to 
safeguard  these  privileges.  These  bulletins  were 
widely  distributed  in  the  camps  of  this  country  and 
abroad. 

The  Information  Bureau  was  also  a  source  of  assist- 
ance to  the  relatives  anl  friends  of  the  men  in  connec- 
tion with  family,  business  and  legal  problems  inci- 
dental to  their  return  to  civilian  life. 

It  would  be  difficult  from  the  very  nature  of  the 
work,  to  state  with  exactness  the  precise  total  number 
of  instances  of  personal  service  extended  by  the  field 
representatives.  As  suggestive,  however,  of  the  large 
scale  on  which  personal  ministrations  of  the  organiza- 
tion were  conducted,  approximately  300,000  personal 
service  matters  are  estimated  to  have  been  handled 
from  August  1918  to  August  1919. 

Recreational  Program 

The  need  for  maintaining  the  good  cheer  and  buoy- 
ant spirits  of  the  enlisted  men  became  more  urgent 
than  ever  during  the  period  of  demobilization.  Whole- 
some and  varied  diversion  had  always  been  a  source  of 
enjoyable  recreation  to  the  men,  but  was  now  of 
added  significance  as  a  means  of  counteracting  the 
tedium  and  restlessness  of  waiting  in  camp  for 
discharge. 

Hitherto,  the  entertainments  had  been  designed  to 
relieve  the  strain  of  military  drill  and  preparation  for 


26  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

the  front.  Military  drill  and  routine  were  now  greatly 
relaxed.  The  men  were  given  more  frequent  leaves 
of  absence  from  the  camp  and  visited  the  communities 
more  often.  It  was  accordingly  imperative  to  see  that 
this  increased  leisure  was  spent  in  a  most  wholesome 
and  beneficial  manner. 

The  Entertainment  Division  at  National  Headquar- 
ters was  enlarged  to  meet  adequately  the  increased 
need  for  social  and  recreational  work.  Entertainment 
centers  were  established  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  Central 
States,  northern  New  Jersey  and  at  Boston.  These 
Centers  co-operated  with  and  were  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  National  Entertainment  Director. 
Through  the  efforts  of  the  Sectional  Entertainment 
Directors,  singers,  musical  performers  and  other  en- 
tertainers were  secured  for  the  various  military  and 
naval  posts. 

In  camps  and  debarkation  centers  and  at  the  com- 
munity buildings  in  town,  dances,  musicals,  vaude- 
ville programs,  boxing  bouts,  moving  pictures,  "stunt" 
nights  and  special  features  which  had  formed  a  part 
of  the  regular  entertainment  program  were  increased 
in  number. 

In  order  to  bring  specialized  entertainment  to  a 
particular  group  of  the  men  of  Jewish  faith,  a  Yiddish 
operatic  troupe  was  sent  to  the  New  England,  Eastern 
and  Southeastern  camps.  The  opera  "Shulamith," 
presented  by  this  company  was  especially  well 
received. 

Vaudeville  companies  were  sent  on  a  tour  of  camps 
remote  from  cities  which  could  provide  attractive  en- 
tertainment on  a  large  scale.  These  companies  per- 
formed not  only  at  Jewish  Welfare  Board  huts,  but 
also  at  Red  Cross,  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
and  Knights  of  Columbus  Buildings. 

As  a  part  of  the  recreational  program,  every  en- 
couragement was  given  to  athletics.    At  one  camp  the 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        29 

representative  organized  a  basketball  team,  which  was 
a  part  of  the  camp  basketball  league.  The  camp 
workers  were  often  coaches  of  baseball  and  other  ath- 
letic teams. 

The  direction  and  stimulation  of  these  outdoor  ac- 
tivities were  undertaken  in  the  most  intimate  co- 
operation with  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
and  Knights  of  Columbus. 

Recreational  equipment  such  as  motion  picture  ma- 
chines, pianos,  pianolas  and  phonographs  were  fur- 
nished for  each  of  the  buildings. 

The  work  of  the  field  representatives  during  the 
trying  period  of  demobilization  can  best  be  under- 
stood from  a  review  of  a  typical  weekly  program  at 
one  of  the  large  demobilization  camps. 

Monday  evening — Songs  and  recitations  by  the 
men  themselves. 

Tuesday  evening — Open  forum  and  refreshments. 

Wednesday  evening — Smoker  and  minstrel  show. 

Thursday  evening — Lecture  by  officer  of  high  rank. 

Friday  evening — Religious  services. 

Saturday  evening — Amateur  show. 

Sunday  evening — Professional  entertainment  and 
refreshments. 

Educational  Activities 

In  the  conduct  of  educational  activities,  the  stress 
was  likewise  placed  on  those  phases  of  the  work 
which  would  be  most  helpful  to  the  men  on  their 
return  to  civilian  life. 

The  interest  of  the  soldiers  in  educational  work 
during  mobilization  appeared  to  be  rather  in  cultural 
subjects.  The  classes  conducted  then  were  not  only 
instructive,  but  were  also  helpful  means  of  diverting 
the  minds  of  the  men  from  the  serious  business  of 
military  training. 


30  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

The  men  now  began  to  look  upon  the  educational 
service  as  of  the  greatest  value  in  preparing  them  for 
their  reassumption  of  civilian  duties.  In  France  and 
in  this  country,  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  were 
fired  with  an  ambition  to  do  bigger  things  and  occupy 
a  bigger  place  in  life  than  had  hitherto  fallen  to  their 
lot.  In  many  instances  men  were  eager  to  take  up 
work  for  which  they  were  unsuited  by  ability  and 
previous  training.  Those  who  appreciated  their 
shortcomings  in  this  respect  were  anxious  to  improve 
the  opportunity  by  educating  themselves  for  the  work 
which  they  wanted  to  do.  Our  representatives  were 
of  assistance  to  those  who  did  not  realize  their  handi- 
cap, by  indicating  to  them  how  they  could  hope  to 
fulfill  their  new  ambitions  by  attendance  at  the  educa- 
tional classes  and  through  diligent  study. 

Courses  were  organized  in  English,  Spanish,  French 
and  mathematics  and  in  bookkeeping,  history,  map 
studies  and  current  events.  Other  classes  were 
formed  as  needed.  Specially  qualified  teachers  were 
secured  to  instruct  the  men.  At  one  camp  the  instruc- 
tors of  the  educational  courses  were  professors  from 
a  neighboring  college. 

At  the  request  of  the  military  authorities,  English, 
Yiddish  and  Russian  lectures  on  naturalization  and 
citizenship  were  arranged. 

At  San  Antonio,  Texas,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board 
in  conjunction  with  the  San  Antonio  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  organized  an  agricultural  exhibit  and  a 
series  of  lectures  on  agricultural  topics.  The  military 
authorities  not  only  sanctioned  this  plan,  but  gave  it 
their  heartiest  support.  It  was  felt  that  many  men 
from  rural  districts  who  would  be  inclined  to  seek  posi- 
tions in  the  large  cities  would  be  induced  to  return 
to  farm  work  as  a  result  of  the  educational  influence 
of  this  exhibit. 

Brig.  Gen.  E.  L.  Munson,  at  the  time  Chief  of  the 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        ZZ 

Morale    Branch    of   the   War    Department,    referring 
to  the  agricultural  exhibit,  wrote  as  follows: 

"One  most  valuable  activity,  which  this  office 
recently  learned  through  the  newspapers,  was 
largely,  if  not  entirely  originated  by  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board,  was  a  course  in  practical  farming 
and  a  farm  exhibit  at  Camp  Travis,  Texas,  in  which 
over  four  thousand  soldiers  soon  to  be  discharged, 
enrolled  for  the  course. 

"The  Morale  Office,  Camp  Travis,  reports  that 
this  course  was  so  attractive  that  some  soldiers 
requested  delay  in  discharge  and  others  remained 
after  discharge  in  order  to  complete  it.  Such 
practical  helpfulness  is  most  appreciated  by  this 
office  and  the  men  themselves." 

The  class  work  was  supplemented  by  lectures  held 
at  regular  intervals  by  prominent  Rabbis  and  laymen. 
The  attendance  at  these  lectures  ranged  from  groups 
of  one  hundred  or  more  to  over  three  thousand. 

Religious  Program 

Religious  services  were  continued  in  camp  on  Fri- 
day evening,  and  Sabbath  and  were  well  attended.  As 
the  men  were  in  the  communities  more  often,  they 
were  enabled  to  attend  the  services  at  local  syna- 
gogues and  temples  frequently. 

The  release  of  the  men  from  intense  military  duty, 
also  permitted  of  a  more  normal  celebration  of  the 
religious  holidays.  Rosh  Hashanah,  Yom  Kippur, 
Succoth  and  other  days  were  observed  with  the  same 
splendid  spirit  and,  where  appropriate,  with  as  liberal 
distribution  of  gifts  as  during  the  days  of  mobilization. 

Community  Co-operation 

In  the  communities  the  local  Branches  lent  the 
fullest  co-operation  in  carrying  out  the  program  of 
Post-Armistice  service. 


34  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

Home  hospitality  was  increased  and  was  helpful  in 
warding  off  the  feeling  of  homesickness  among  the 
men.  The  Community  Center  was  made  more  attrac- 
tive and  the  schedule  of  entertainments  was  extended. 
The  Branches  arranged  welcome-home  receptions  to 
returning  soldiers  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
public  demonstrations  accorded  to  local  Divisions  on 
their  arrival  from  overseas. 

In  the  large  Centers  throughout  the  country,  dor- 
mitory accommodations  were  provided  so  that  the 
men  could  find  lodging  under  wholesome  conditions, 
while  seeking  employment.  In  New  York,  Chicago 
and  the  other  large  cities,  dormitory  facilities  were 
supplemented  in  many  instances  by  canteen  accommo- 
dations, which  were  offered  to  all  enlisted  and  ex- 
service  men. 

The  local  organizations  were  likewise  of  assistance 
in  helping  the  men  find  employment.  Their  activi- 
ties in  this  direction  are  discussed  hereafter  in  this 
report. 


POST-ARMISTICE— OVERSEAS  WORK 

Substantially,  the  program  of  activities  overseas  was 
similar  to  that  obtaining  in  this  country.  In  the  course 
of  the  development  of  the  work,  Mr.  Mortimer  L. 
Schiff  went  abroad  on  a  mission  for  the  Committee 
of  Eleven  of  the  United  War  Work  Campaign  and 
also  assumed  the  responsibility  for  the  general  super- 
vision of  the  Overseas  Department.  Mr.  Schiff  was 
subsequently  followed  by  the  late  Colonel  Cutler  who 
was  in  France  for  six  months,  during  which  period  he 
took  actual  charge  of  the  welfare  program.  Dr.  Cyrus 
Adler  and  Mr.  Louis  Marshall  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee were  also  in  France  and  lent  their  assistance 
und  co-operation  in  furthering  the  work  of  the  Board. 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE       Z7 

Arrangements  were  made  to  secure  the  service  of 
Captain  Elkan  Voorsangtr  of  the  Chaplains'  Corps  of 
the  U.  S.  Army,  who  became  the  Executive  Director 
of  the  overseas  organization.  After  Colonel  Cutler's 
return  to  the  United  States,  Dr,  Cyrus  Adler,  the  Vice- 
Chairman  of  the  Board,  remained  several  months  to 
help  complete  the  plans  for  expanding  the  work. 

Personnel  and  Buildings 

A  total  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  workers, 
men  and  women,  stationed  at  fifty-seven  Centers, 
served  overseas.  These  Jewish  Welfare  Board  repre- 
sentatives acquitted  themselves  most  creditably  and 
in  not  one  instance  did  the  army  officials  or  French 
Government  authorities  have  any  difficulty  whatsoever 
with  them. 

Of  the  Centers,  twenty-three  were  located  in  towns 
and  were  rented,  twenty-eight  were  loaned  by  the 
Army,  two  by  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  two  by  the 
Red  Cross,  one  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, and  one  by  the  Belgian  Government. 

The  location  of  these  Centers  was  largely  the  re- 
sult of  changes  made  necessary  by  the  signing  of  the 
Armistice.  When  hostilities  ceased,  a  new  situation 
developed.  Instead  of  troops  coming  to  France,  they 
were  being  returned  to  the  United  States.  The 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  assigned  its  workers  and 
located  its  buildings  in  accordance  with  the  plan  pur- 
sued with  regard  to  the  movement  of  the  units  of  the 
American  Expeditionary  Forces.  Thus,  Centers  were 
established  in  Germany  to  serve  the  Third  Army,  or 
Army  of  Occupation.  In  the  same  manner.  Centers 
were  established  in  the  area  occupied  by  the  Second 
Army,  and  in  the  large  training  areas  where  the  First 
Army  was  located.  All  other  combatant  units  being 
concentrated  upon  the  Le  Mans  area,  otherwise  known 
as  the  American  Embarkation  Center,  Centers  were 


38  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

likewise  opened  in  this  area.  Inasmuch  as  all  troops 
were  to  pass  through  the  Embarkation  Center  and 
the  Ports  of  Embarkation  on  their  way  to  the  United 
States,  and  in  view  of  its  limited  personnel,  the  efforts 
of  the  Board  were  concentrated  largely  at  these  latter 
posts. 

With  this  program  in  mind,  immediately  after  the 
signing  of  the  Armistice,  the  scope  of  the  work  in 
the  Le  Mans  area  and  at  the  Ports  of  Embarkation  at 
Brest,  St.  Nazaire  and  Bordeaux  was  increased,  it 
being  considered  of  primary  importance  that  the  great- 
est emphasis  be  laid  upon  the  work  in  these  areas. 
Second  in  order  in  degree  of  importance  was  the 
work  with  the  Third  Army  in  Germany.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  facilities  both  in  buildings  and  per- 
sonnel was  distributed  among  the  Divisions  in  the 
First  and  Second  Armies.  Centers  were  established  in 
Germany  during  the  month  of  January,  1919,  a  total 
of  seven  being  operated  in  this  area.  At  the  same  time, 
Centers  were  established  in  the  Service  of  Supply  area 
and  the  work  extended  to  the  other  permanent  camps 
along  the  lines  of  communication,  so  that  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  had  a  series  of  Centers  running  from 
Tours  through  St.  Aignan,  Gievres,  Bourges,  Beaune, 
Is-sur-Tille,  Dijon  and  Chaumont. 

In  addition,  a  large  number  of  workers  were  as- 
signed to  the  following  Divisions:  the  6th,  29th,  5th, 
7th,  33rd,  and  79th.  These  workers  moved  along  with 
the  Division  from  point  to  point  until  it  finally  em- 
barked for  the  United  States. 

In  short,  the  program  was  to  serve,  first,  the  men 
immediately  scheduled  for  return,  and  secondly,  those 
stationed  in   the   more   permanent   camps. 

The  character  of  a  J.  W.  B.  Center  depended  largely 
upon  the  kind  of  troops  and  the  physical  conditions  of 
the  area  in  which  the  Center  was  located.  In  the 
towns,  the  Center  assumed  the  character  of  a  club. 


M^- 


f'.- 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE  41 

comprising  a  social  room,  a  library,  writing  room, 
meeting  rooms  and  kitchen.  In  the  camps,  generally 
barracks,  hangars,  or  welfare  buildings  formerly  used 
by  the  other  agencies  were  occupied,  these  buildings 
being  extensively  equipped  for  entertainment  purposes 
and  for  the  serving  of  refreshments.  In  every  instance, 
it  was  the  effort  of  the  representative  to  make  the 
building  as  comfortable  as  possible. 

Program 

The  fundamental  principle  of  the  activity  overseas, 
as  in  the  case  of  the  work  in  the  United  States,  was 
to  provide  the  maximum  of  service  without  charge 
of  any  kind  to  the  soldiers,  who,  regardless  of  an}^ 
religious  distinction,  were  at  all  times  welcome  in  the 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  Centers  and  to  the  various 
functions.  In  the  distribution  of  supplies  and  in  the 
serving  of  refreshments,  the  same  policy  was  main- 
tained. 

The  religious  program  conducted  was  similar  to 
that  followed  in  the  camps  of  this  country,  consisting 
of  religious  services  daily,  Friday  evening  and  Sab- 
bath, and  in  addition  the  observance  of  the  Jewish 
holidays  and  festivals.  A  total  of  1,740  religious 
services  were  held,  the  attendance  in  the  aggregate 
being  180,000. 

Passover 

The  Festival  of  Passover  was  celebrated  under  sig- 
nificant circumstances.  In  1918,  the  army  authorities 
provided  matzoths  which  were  distributed  among  the 
soldiers  of  the  Jewish  faith.  When  plans  were  dis- 
cussed for  the  arrangements  for  the  Passover  of  1919, 
the  War  Department  requested  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  to  provide  matzoths.  Accordingly,  there  was 
purchased  in  this  country  a  large  quantity  for  the 
use  of  the  men  overseas,  and  this  amount  was  sup- 


42  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

pleniented  with  purchases  made  in  France,  a  total  of 
300,000  pounds  being  furnished.  Through  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Quartermaster  Corps,  arrangements  were 
made  for  the  distribution  of  these  matzoths.  Every 
soldier  of  the  Jewish  faith  was  given  a  two-day  pass, 
and  assigned  to  one  of  the  nine  concentration  centers 
where  Passover  celebrations  were  arranged. 

The  Passover  Service  celebration  held  in  Paris  in- 
cluded a  full  course  Passover  Seder  supper,  religious 
service,  and  addresses  by  prominent  representatives 
of  the  War  Department,  including  the  Hon.  Raymond 
B.  Fosdick,  Colonel  R.  M.  Lyon,  Colonel  Gouthiers, 
representing  Marshal  Foch,  as  well  as  by  Colonel 
Harry  Cutler,  Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  Judge  Julian  Mack  and 
Mr.  Louis  Marshall.  Altogether  twenty-four  Seders 
were  held  with  an  attendance  of  30,000,  including  sol- 
diers of  the  Allied  forces.  In  this  connection,  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  the  French  troops  were  likewise 
provided  with  matzoths  from  our  stores. 

The  religious  welfare  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Jewish 
faith  was  not  only  the  concern  of  the  field  representa- 
tives but  of  the  Rabbis  who  served  as  Army  Chaplains 
as  well.  The  assistance  given  by  the  Board  to  the 
War  Department  in  the  appointment  of  these  Chap- 
lains was  fully  explained  in  the  previous  report  of  the 
Executive  Committee. 

There  was  a  close  relationship  between  the  Board 
and  the  Chaplains.  The  latter  acted  as  liaison  officers 
of  the  organization  in  the  conduct  of  religious  activi- 
ties and  worked  in  the  closest  co-operation  with  the 
field  representatives.  The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  sup- 
plied each  Chaplain  with  an  automobile  and  type- 
writer, and  a  special  fund  of  500  francs  per  month  to 
be  expended  as  he  saw  fit  in  behalf  of  the  uniformed 
men. 

The  most  important  phase  of  personal  service  ren- 
dered by  the  workers  overseas  was  maintaining  contact 


u 


cq 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        45 

with  relatives  back  home.  They  answered  inquiries 
from  the  parents  and  friends  of  the  soldier  and  kept 
them  constantly  informed  of  his  well-being.  Informa- 
tion was  furnished  on  many  quasi-legal  and  military 
matters.  The  representatives  wrote  letters  for  those 
who  were  unable  to  write,  and  provided  reading  ma- 
terial and  such  comforts  as  the  soldier  required. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Worker  was  always  the  host 
to  the  man  in  uniform.  A  genuine  pleasure  in  dis- 
tributing refreshments  was  the  spirit  that  marked  this 
phase  of  activitiy.  In  harmony  with  the  homelike 
atmosphere  of  the  hut,  the  soldier  was  accorded  the 
treatment  of  a  guest,  and  the  plan  followed  in  the 
distribution  of  refreshments  permitted  of  no  line  of 
waiting  soldiers,  but  each  man  was  given  attention 
immediately  upon  his  entering  the  building. 

Entertainment 

Entertainments  were  provided  daily  at  the  principal 
Centers.  A  feature  of  the  program,  which  included 
the  usual  vaudeville  and  motion  picture  shows,  dances 
several  times  a  week  and  special  performances  on  holi- 
days, was  the  organization  of  units  and  special  enter- 
tainments that  were  routed  throughout  the  camps. 
These  units  included  the  "Tuneful  Trio"  which  gave 
a  total  of  eighty-one  concerts,  consisting  of  Yiddish 
folk  songs  and  other  musical  numbers.  Altogether, 
over  60,000  men  were  entertained  by  this  unit.  The 
most  important  entertainment  work  undertaken  by  the 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  was  the  presentation  of  the 
Second  Army  Show,  "Who  Can  Tell,"  in  response  to 
a  request  made  by  Colonel  Lyon,  in  charge  of  Welfare 
activities  for  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces. 
This  show  was  played  for  five  weeks  consecutively, 
one  of  the  performances  in  Paris  being  attended  by 
the  President  and  Mrs.  Wilson  and  members  of  the 
President's    party.      Another    entertainment    venture 


46  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

was  the  "Dovetail  Troupe,"  a  vaudeville  unit  of 
unusual  merit,  which  toured  the  camps  throughout 
the  American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

Altogether  there  was  an  attendance  of  2,750,000  at 
5,000  entertainments  and  dances  provided  by  the  over- 
seas organization. 

Hospital  Service 

As  in  the  case  of  the  welfare  program  in  this  coun- 
try the  importance  of  hospital  service  was  always 
emphasized.  The  work  included  ward  visitation,  dis- 
tribution of  supplies  among  the  sick  and  the  wounded, 
furnishing  reading  material,  writing  letters  to  the 
folks  back  home  and  the  performance  of  countless 
other  personal  services.  A  total  of  40,000  wounded 
men  were  visited  and  served. 

Educational  Work 

In  addition  to  courses  in  English,  French,  and  com- 
mercial subjects  conducted  by  the  workers  in  the  va- 
rious Centers,  the  Board  assigned  to  the  Army  Edu- 
cational Corps  two  members  of  its  staff.  Dr.  David 
S.  Blondheim  was  stationed  at  the  Sorbonne  Univer- 
sity and  Dr.  Hyman  C.  Enelow  at  the  American  Uni- 
versity at  Beaune. 

Russian  Soldiers 

Welfare  Service  was  extended  to  Russian  soldiers 
in  France.  These  men  found  themselves  among  con- 
ditions of  life  that  were  totally  strange  and  unfa- 
miliar to  them.  The  workers  understood  the  psycholo- 
gy of  these  Russians,  both  Jew  and  non-Jew,  and  took 
every  opportunity  to  perform  personal  services  for 
them.  In  addition,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  was 
able  to  supply  many  Russian  prisoners  in  Germany 
with  matzoths  during  the  Passover  of  1919. 


til 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE       49 

SERVICE  TO  RETURNING  TROOPS 

In  order  to  carry  out  its  plan  of  an  all-inclusive 
service  to  the  enlisted  men,  the  Board  added  to  its 
schedule  of  welfare  service  other  activities,  which 
would  make  for  the  increased  welfare  and  happiness 
of  the  men  under  the  Post-Armistice  conditions. 

Troop  Train  Service 

The  field  representatives  made  it  a  practice  to  wel- 
come the  men  as  they  came  into  camp  from  the  trans- 
ports and  from  the  debarkation  camps.  In  co- 
operation with  the  Y.  M  .C.  A.  and  K.  of  C.  workers, 
the  representatives  would  board  the  incoming  trains 
at  a  convenient  distance  from  the  camp  and  meet  the 
men  before  they  arrived  at  their  destination.  The 
customary  supplies  were  distributed  on  the  trains  and 
personal  service  cases  received  attention. 

At  one  camp  the  representative  had  been  advised 
by  another  worker  at  a  distant  post  that  a  train  of 
troops  had  left  for  his  camp.  The  train  arrived  at 
midnight  and  was  met  by  Jewish  Welfare  Board  work- 
ers at  the  station.  The  camp  was  in  utter  darkness 
save  for  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  building.  The 
soldiers  were  directed  to  the  hut  for  coffee  and  sand- 
wiches, the  Commanding  Officer  marching  his  men 
into  the  hut  and  from  there  assigning  them  to  their 
respective  barracks. 

The  communities  made  provisions  for  troop  trains 
passing  through  the  city  en  route  to  camp.  During 
the  stop-over  period  ladies  of  the  Branch  provided 
coffee,  sandwiches,  fruit  and  smokes.  If  the  train 
was  to  make  a  long  stop,  the  troops  were  directed  to 
canteens  and  lodging  places  and  advised  where  they 
could  secure  wholesome  entertainment  and  recreation. 
In  some  of  the  large  cities,  a  representative  was 
assigned  to  depot  work  to  meet  the  incoming  trains. 

At  the  camps  whenever  an  unusually  large  grouj) 


50  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

left,  the  field  representative  accompanied  the  men  on 
the  train  a  short  distance.  The  personal  needs  of  the 
men  were  taken  care  of  and  the  worker  was  ready  to 
meet  any  emergency  requirements.  Whenever  the 
number  of  men  leaving  the  camp  was  comparativelv 
small,  one  of  the  soldiers  of  the  group  was  assigned 
to  take  the  place  of  the  representative. 

On  the  Transports 

Pursuant  to  an  order  by  the  War  Department, 
issued  on  December  18,  1918,  the  welfare  organizations 
were  authorized  to  place  representatives  on  the  trans- 
ports to  accompany  the  troops  back  to  the  United 
States  from  France. 

The  Board  organized  a  Transport  Service  Division 
to  supervise  this  work.  Thirty-one  reprcsentativeb 
were  assigned  to  troop  ships  and  on  the  fifty-two 
round  trips  completed  by  these  workers,  thousands  ot 
men,  including  the  crews,  were  reached  by  this  service. 

In  co-operation  with  the  other  welfare  agencies  the 
organizations  presented  to  the  soldiers  on  the  trans- 
ports so-called  community  boxes  containing  refresh- 
ments, stationery,  etc.  The  Board  contributed  ap- 
proximately $14,000  as  its  share  towards  the  purchase 
of  these  gift  boxes. 

The  representatives  distributed  during  the  voyage 
athletic  equipment  and  such  supplies  as  fountain-pen 
ink,  tablets,  soap,  hair-brushes,  handkerchiefs,  pencils, 
tooth-paste,  shoe-shining  outfits,  games,  including 
cards  and  dominoes,  checkers  and  chess. 

The  workers  co-operated  with  the  other  welfare 
agencies  in  promoting  clean,  wholesome  entertainment 
on  board  ship. 

Innumerable  personal  service  cases  were  accorded  a 
great  deal  of  time  and  attention. 

Religious  services  were  held  regularly  on  the  trans- 
ports, either  by  the  "Star  of  David"  man  or  a  Jewish 
man  selected  from  among  the  enlisted  personnel.    The 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE       53 

traditional  Friday  evening  services  were  a  regular  fea- 
ture and  the  holidays  were  celebrated  in  an  appropriate 
manner. 

Meeting  Returning  Troops 

When  the  soldiers  and  sailors  returned  to  this 
country,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  participated  in  the 
hearty  greeting  which  was  extended  to  every  incom- 
ing ship  at  the  ports  of  debarkation.  Representatives 
at  Hobokcn,  Boston,  Portland,  Philadelphia,  Norfolk, 
Newport  News  and  Charleston  met  in  all  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  transports  with  returning  troops, 
supplied  the  men  with  gifts  and  daily  newspapers,  and 
rendered  service  that  added  to  the  warmth  of  their 
welcome. 

As  the  work  proceeded,  it  was  decided  that  each 
agency  should  be  solely  responsible  for  the  distribu- 
tion of  some  needed  article.  The  Board  was  given  the 
exclusive  privilege  of  distributing  handkerchiefs  to 
the  men.  On  account  of  the  difficulties  experienced  in 
obtaining  handkerchiefs  in  France,  this  gift  was 
acknowledged  by  the  men  with  grateful  enthusiasm. 

There  wxre  also  distributed  "Hello"  cards,  which 
the  men  quickly  forwarded  to  relatives  and  friends 
announcing  their  arrival,  and  postcard  pictures  of  the 
various  transports,  together  with  pencils.  Other  work 
on  the  piers  embraced  collecting  mail  and  delivering 
it  to  the  military  postoffice,  giving  information  and 
advice,  and  carrying  messages  between  the  men  and 
their  relatives  and  friends  waiting  outside  the  yards. 

An  important  feature  of  the  work  at  the  debarkation 
ports  was  the  visitation  to  the  sick  bays  of  the  trans- 
ports. The  workers  as  soon  as  the  boat  was  made 
fast,  visited  the  sick  and  wounded,  brought  them 
delicacies  and  smokes  and  performed  any  personal 
errand  requested  of  them. 

In    addition    to    the    service    among    the    returning 


54  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

troops,  the  work  at  the  debarkation  ports  consisted  of 
activities  in  behalf  of  the  troops  permanently  sta- 
tioned at  these  places,  and  also  ministrations  for  the 
crews  of  the  ships  in  port.  In  order  to  make  pro- 
visions for  the  needs  of  the  latter,  a  program  of  ship 
visiting  was  followed.  Every  ship  which  docked  at 
the  port  was  visited  by  a  representative  who  estab- 
lished personal  contact  with  the  members  of  the  crew. 

At  Hobokcn,  N.  J.,  a  Center  was  maintained  where 
entertainments  and  dances  were  held  at  regular  inter- 
vals for  the  permanent  troops  and  for  the  members 
of  the  crew  of  the  various  ships  in  port.  The  Center 
was  equipped  with  lounging  chairs,  writing  tables  and 
recreational  facilities.  Hospitality  was  extended  to  all 
soldiers,  sailors  and  marines. 

Caring  for  the  Wounded  and  Sick 

The  hospital  activities  had  always  received  much 
attention  on  the  part  of  the  field  representatives.  Be- 
fore the  Armistice,  the  hospitals  were  filled  with  the 
sick  only.  The  instances  where  confinement  was  of 
long  duration  were  rare.  Now  the  wounded  and  dis- 
abled were  being  returned  from  France.  Many  of 
these  men  were  unfortunately  required  to  remain  in 
hospital  or  convalescent  homes  for  a  considerable 
period. 

The  Hospital  Service  Division  was  organized  at 
National  Headquarters  in  January,  1919,  to  promote 
special  activities  in  conjunction  with  the  efforts  of 
the  hospital  authorities  and  the  educational  and  recrea- 
tional officers  of  the  hospital  and  the  American  Red 
Cross. 

A  total  of  fifty-four  field  representatives  who  had 
training  in  pedagogy  or  experience  in  teaching,  were 
assigned  to  forty  general  hospitals,  seventeen  base 
hospitals,  functioning  in  physical  reconstruction,  sev- 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE       55 

enteen  regular  base  hospitals,  thirteen  debarkation 
hospitals  and  six  miscellaneous  hospitals. 

Ward  entertainments  for  bedridden  patients  were 
a  regular  feature  of  the  hospital  service.  Moving  pic- 
tures were  displayed  on  the  ceilings  of  the  wards. 
Vaudeville  shows  and  concerts,  followed  by  the  serving 
of  refreshments  were  arranged. 

Over  one  hundred  thousand  wards  were  visited  by 
the  workers  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board.  Bedside 
ministration  was  a  usual  part  of  the  work.  Repre- 
sentatives came  for  a  bedside  chat,  to  write  letters  to 
relatives  and  friends  and  to  bring  cheer  and  comfort 
to  the  patients.  Fruit,  delicacies,  cigarettes,  writing 
materials  and  other  articles  of  comfort  were  provided 
for  all  the  men,  regardless  of  creed. 

The  volunteer  hospital  committees  of  the  com- 
munity Branches  were  of  the  greatest  assistance  in 
this  \vork.  The  men  and  women  of  the  cities  and 
towns  near  the  hospitals  brought  to  the  sick  soldiers 
the  comfort  of  personal  interest  and  contact. 

Among  the  educational  activities  conducted  at  the 
hospitals  were  classes  in  advertising,  bookkeeping, 
commercial  law,  banking,  stenography,  typewriting, 
English,  singing,  instrumental  music,  Hebrew  and 
Jewish  history.  In  many  instances  individual  in- 
struction was  given  to  the  patients  in  addition  to  the 
class  work.  A  total  of  five  hundred  classes  attended 
by  over  ten  thousand  men  were  conducted  by  repre- 
sentatives  in   the   hospitals   throughout   the    country. 

An  important  phase  of  the  work  was  the  task  of 
encouraging  patients  to  avail  themselves  of  the  oppor- 
tunity for  training  offered  by  the  authorities.  As  a 
means  to  this  end,  the  Board  published  and  distributed 
thousands  of  copies  of  a  booklet,  "My  Diary,"  to  the 
patients  of  the  various  hospitals.  This  booklet,  practi- 
cally arranged,  contained  important  information  re- 
garding War  Risk  Insurance,  and  the  opportunities  for 


56  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

vocational  training  that  were  given  to  ex-soldiers  by 
the  Government,  photographs  and  descriptions  of  edu- 
cational activities  in  which  wounded  men  might  par- 
ticipate, blank  pages  for  diary  purposes  and  other 
valuable  material. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  at  those  places  where 
no  Governmental  appropriation  was  available,  fur- 
thered the  educational  activities  by  supplying  needed 
equipment  such  as  typewriters,  tools  of  various  kinds, 
desks  and  printing  outfits. 

For  the  recreation  of  the  wounded  and  sick  there 
were  arranged  varied  entertainments.  Wounded  men 
were  given  automobile  and  bus  rides,  taken  on  sight- 
seeing tours,  sleigh  rides  and  motor  boat  rides.  Thea- 
tre parties  were  frequently  held  in  neighboring  towns. 
Athletic  teams,  composed  of  wounded  and  slightly  dis- 
abled men,  were  formed  and  games  played.  Field  and 
track  meets  and  checker  and  chess  tournaments  were 
conducted. 

Altogether  over  four  thousand  entertainments,  with 
a  total  attendance  of  approximately  one  million  two 
hundred  thousand,  were  arranged  by  the  Board  in 
the  military  hospitals.  An  aggregate  of  over  one 
hundred  thousand  men  attended  religious  services  and 
the  celebrations  of  the  Jewish  holidays,  which  were 
held  in  the  hospitals. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  religious  activities,  the  spiri- 
tual needs  of  the  men  were  further  provided  for 
through  the  generous  distribution  of  religious  supplies 
and  accessories. 

During  the  influenza  epidemic  in  the  fall  and  winter 
of  1918-1919  the  representatives  were  very  helpful  in 
alleviating  the  distress  of  the  scourge.  Hospital  visi- 
tation was  of  course  the  most  important  activity.  Dis- 
regarding the  danger  to  which  they  exposed  them- 
selves, the  workers  waited  upon  those  who  were 
stricken  and  rendered  them  every  assistance.     Letters 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE       59 

were  written  to  the  homes  of  the  men  to  allay  the 
fears  of  anxious  parents.  Panic-stricken  relatives  who 
came  personally  to  camp  had  to  be  reassured,  or  com- 
forted in  their  grief.  Cheerful  and  intimate  talks  with 
the  soldiers  at  their  barracks  helped  to  buoy  up  de- 
pressed spirits.  Arrangements  were  made  for  the  fun- 
erals of  those  who  succumbed.  No  act  of  kindness  or 
mercy  was  left  undone  which  could  bring  succor  to 
the  stricken  or  solace  to  the  bereaved. 

Employment  Activities 

The  employment  activities  sought  to  comprehend 
the  situation  which  was  created  by  the  return  of  the 
soldiers.  It  was  recognized  that  the  problem  con- 
stituted a  Jewish  community  obligation  to  be  dis- 
charged by  Jewish  communities,  through  such  insti- 
tutions, lodges  and  other  agencies  as  were  ready 
and  able,  by  reason  of  their  physical  resources  and  per- 
sonnel, to  engage  in  such  efforts  successfully. 

The  Board  was  fortunate  in  securing  the  co- 
operation of  the  Y.  M.  H.  A.  and  I.  O.  B.  B.  in  the 
conduct  of  the  employment  activities.  Through  the 
assistance  of  these  national  organizations,  local 
agencies  were  mobilized  for  the  task  of  finding  suit- 
able employment  for  the  men.  Special  committees  on 
employment  were  created  by  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  conjointly  with  the  Y.  M.  H.  A.  and  I.  O.  B.  B. 
in  all  cities  in  which  the  three  organizations  had 
local  bodies.  Wherever  one  of  these  organizations 
had  no  local  constituent  body,  the  other  or  others 
assumed  responsibility  for  the  activity.  Other  local 
Jewish  agencies  that  desired  to  participate  were 
welcomed. 

The  efforts  of  these  organizations  were  thus  har- 
monized and  brought  under  centralized  control,  the 
work  being  conducted  in  accordance  with  uniform 
national  policies  and  financed  by  the  Board  upon  the 


60  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

basis  of  a  budget  rendered  monthly  in  advance  for 
the  review  of  the  National  Office. 

In  every  instance  where  there  was  a  general  city 
Re-employment  Bureau  for  Returning  Soldi-rrs  and 
Sailors,  the  local  joint  committee  of  the  I.  O.  B.  B. 
Council  of  Y.  M.  H.  A.  and  Jewish  Welfare  Board 
worked  in  thorough  co-operation,  so  as  to  avoid  dupli- 
cation and  to  increase  the  effectiveness  of  the  general 
employment  effort  of  the  community. 

In  nine  communities,  separate  employment  bureaus 
were  maintained  by  local  J.  W.  B.  committees.  In 
twelve  cities,  employment  organizations  were  operated 
by  the  Y.  M.  H.  A.  in  co-operation  with  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board.  In  fifteen  cities,  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  established  no  independent  bureau  of  its  own, 
but  made  direct  contribution  of  personnel  or  funds,  or 
both,  to  the  community  employment  bureau  conducted 
jointly  by  the  soldier  and  sailor  welfare  agencies.  In 
one  hundred  and  eight  communities,  the  employment 
activities  were  carried  on  by  volunteer  committees 
under  the  joint  auspices  of  the  Y.  M.  H.  A.,  the  I.  O. 
B.  B,  and  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board. 

In  New  York  City  the  Employment  Bureau  was 
organized  Avith  one  central  office  and  seven  branch 
employment  offices.  When  the  various  welfare 
agencies  agreed  to  finance  the  Re-employment  Bureau, 
established  by  the  Merchants'  Association  of  New 
York,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  abandoned  its  own 
employment  office  and  joined  with  the  other  welfare 
organizations  in  the  support  of  this  bureau  for  re- 
turning soldiers.  The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  con- 
tributed approximately  $45,000  towards  the  main- 
tenance of  this  bureau.  The  Board  stationed  two 
uniformed  representatives  in  this  office,  who  acted  as 
vocational  advisers.  They  interviewed  about  three 
thousand  applicants  for  employment,  to  whom  they 
rendered    advice    and    assistance.      Jewish    employers 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE       61 

were  prevailed  upon  to  make  available  opportunities 
for  employment  in  their  establishments.  Men  were 
advised  as  to  educational  opportunities  and  were  re- 
ferred to  institutions  where  they  might  secure  addi- 
tional training.  A  particular  effort  was  made  to  secure 
employment  for  Sabbath  observers,  who  experienced 
greater  difficulty  than  others  in  finding  suitable 
positions. 

The  Chicago  Bureau,  whose  unusual  efficiency  was 
largely  made  possible  by  the  local  I.  O.  B.  B.  Employ- 
ment Organization,  registered  1,637  men  of  whom 
1,477  were  placed.  Over  five  hundred  discharged  men 
Avere  induced  to  enter  the  night  schools  and  two  hun- 
dred went  to  technical  schools. 

The  activities  of  the  Employment  Service,  as  has 
been  observed,  were  not  confined  solely  to  securing 
positions. .  Men  were  advised  as  to  chances  for  growth 
and  promotion  in  various  fields  of  work.  Every  en- 
couragement was  given  to  those  who  desired  to  enter 
upon  some  new  work  which  would  improve  their  con- 
dition. Wherever  preliminary  educational  training 
was  necessary  before  this  step  could  be  taken,  the 
employment  secretary  rendered  every  assistance  to 
enable  the  man  to  secure  this  preparation. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  endeavored  to  share 
fully  the  responsibility  devolving  upon  the  community 
in  the  solution  of  the  ex-soldier  employment  problem. 
The  local  situation  and  particular  needs  of  the  ex- 
service  men  in  each  city  determined  the  extent  of  the 
organization's  contribution  in  men  and  funds  to  the 
program  of  securing  positions  for  the  unemployed. 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  SUPPLIES 

The  following  is  a  list  of  articles  distributed  by  the 
Jew^ish  Welfare  Board  during  the  war  emergency 
period  in  the  camps  of  this  country  and  abroad.     This 


62  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

table  does  not  include  the  large  quantities  of  refresh- 
ments, cigarettes,  comfort  articles  and  similar  gifts 
supplied  to  the  enlisted  men  by  the  field  representa- 
tives and  the  members  of  the  local  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  Branches. 

Stationery 

Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Letterheads 20,000,000 

Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Envelopes 10,000,000 

Postal  Cards : 

Camp  Views  617^50 

Chanukah 250,000 

"Hello" 2,753,250 

Rosh  Hashanah 253,000 

Purim 209,000 

Transport 1,531,339 

Passover    210,000 

Religious  Supplies 

Matzoth    (pounds) 282,423 

Soldiers  and  Sailors  Prayer  Books 268,046 

Soldiers  and  Sailors  Bibles 181,515 

Holiday  Prayer  Books 60,500 

Haggadahs    93,500 

Singer   Prayer  Books 17,500 

Kinoth    5,000 

Selichoth   5,300 

Book  of  Esther 16,500 

Mezzuzahs  5,570 

Talethim    630 

Tephillin    (pairs) 695 

Tzitzith 1,550 

Books  and  Pamphlets 

Song  Books 70,600 

Calendars  53,000 

Maccabean   Spirit 50,000 

On  Intermarriage 20,000 

The  Allied  Countries  and  the  Jews 1,500 

Books  (Yiddish  and  English) 19,360 

Golden  Rule  Hillel 30,000 

Potency  of  Jewish  Race 30,000 

Allotment  and  Insurance 30,000 

Sentinel— Jewish  Welfare  Board  Monthly 60,000 

Veneral  Diseases 20,000 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        65 


Address  on  Right  Living,  Hon.  Josephus  Daniels 20,000 

My  Diary 40,000 

Fit  to  Fight  (Russian- Yiddish) 23,500 

Miscellaneous 

Matches   (boxes)    1,570,000 

Handkerchiefs    1,510,000 

Wallets 80,000 

Checker,  Chess  and  Domino  Sets 59,300 


TERMINATION  OF  WAR  EMERGENCY  ACTIVITIES 

In  the  latter  part  of  October,  1919,  the  War  Depart- 
ment issued  General  Order  No.  109,  made  effective 
November  1,  1919,  which  provided  for  the  transfer  of 
welfare  activities  from  civilian  to  Government  control. 
In  December,  1919,  a  similar  order,  made  effective 
January  1,  1920,  was  promulgated  by  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment. In  compliance  with  these  orders,  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  withdrew  from  the  camps  and  naval 
posts  of  the  country  and  prepared  to  bring  to  a  close 
its  camp  service  activities.  The  representatives  were 
instructed  to  cooperate  with  the  Commanding  Oflficers 
and  Camp  Educational  and  Recreational  Officers  in 
helping  to  make  the  transition.  At  such  posts,  both  in 
the  Army  and  Navy,  where  its  service  was  released, 
the  Board,  in  common  with  the  practice  adopted  by 
the  other  welfare  agencies  turned  over  cheerfully  to 
the  War  and  Navy  Departments  camp  buildings  and 
equipment  required  for  the  use  of  the  enlisted  men. 

Even  prior  to  the  issuance  of  the  order,  pursuant  to 
which  the  Government  assumed  the  performance  of 
welfare  activities,  the  organization  had  been  occupied 
in  effecting  a  continually  progressive  curtailment  of 
its   program,    personnel    and    facilities. 

\\'ith  the  constant  return  of  the  soldiers  from  over- 
seas and  the  discharge  of  men  from  the  service  in  the 


66  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

camps  of  the  United  States,  the  soldier  population 
began  to  dwindle,  resulting  in  a  gradual  slackening 
in  the  demands  upon  the  Board  for  its  welfare  minis- 
trations. Furthermore,  as  posts  were  closed  and 
camps  abandoned  here  and  there  throughout  the  coun- 
try, the  field  of  its  activities  was  correspondingly- 
narrowed. 

Confronted  by  this  condition,  strict  economy  de- 
manded that  the  organization  accommodate  itself 
speedily  and  with  great  mobility  to  the  situation  as  it 
developed  from  day  to  day  at  each  camp,  in  order 
that  no  money  or  efforts  be  expended  beyond  those 
proportionate  to  and  required  by  the  existing 
needs.  On  the  other  hand,  the  obligation  owed  to 
the  enlisted  men  made  it  imperative  that  provision 
for  their  religious,  social  and  recreational  welfare 
should  at  no  time  be  insufficient.  Even  though  many 
men  were  leaving  the  service  each  day,  those  still 
in  uniform  were  entitled  to  receive  the  full  measure  of 
the  Board's  care  and  attention. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  endeavored  to  reconcile 
the  necessities  of  the  situation  by  adopting  and  pur- 
suing a  policy  of  retrenchment  without  diminution 
of  essential  service.  Instead  of  fixing  arbitrarily 
the  time  of  its  withdrawal  from  any  naval  post, 
camp  or  community,  and  in  the  meantime  continuing 
its  activities  undiminished  until  that  day  regardless  of 
a  continually  lessening  need,  it  was  determined  to 
leave  open  the  date  of  retirement  from  any  center. 
This  step,  it  was  resolved,  would  not  be  taken  unless 
and  until  the  absence  of  any  further  need  for  soldier 
welfare  service  automatically,  as  it  were,  terminated 
the  work.  Pending  that  time,  the  welfare  activities 
were  to  be  curtailed  and  made  currently  commen- 
surate with  the  existing  need,  so  that  there  should  at 
no  time  be  any  waste  or  superfluity. 

This  conception  of  the  Board's  responsibility  was 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE       67 

formally  expressed  in  the  following  resolution  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  passed  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Committee  on  July  9,  1919 : 

"With  reference  to  the  continuation  of  the 
buildings,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  where- 
ever  there  is  an  active  camp  and  the  facilities  of 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  are  needed  for  the 
service  of  the  men,  regardless  of  the  small  num- 
ber of  men  of  Jewish  faith  in  any  camp  or  post, 
the  activities  of  the  Board  should  continue  on  the 
principle  that  the  Board  functions  to  all  men, 
regardless  of  creed." 

Procedure  in  Effecting  Demobilization 

Guided  by  this  policy,  the  administration  proceeded 
to  terminate  the  formal  welfare  program  in  the  camps, 
naval  posts  and  communities.  There  took  place  a 
marked  curtailment  in  the  extent  of  the  service  pro- 
gram, the  salvaging  of  buildings,  automobiles  and 
other  equipment,  a  rapid  reduction  of  field  personnel, 
the  slackening  of  community  Branch  activity  and  the 
contraction  of  the  National  Office  Staff  as  well  as  of 
the  facilities  of  the  National  Office. 

During  September,  1919,  the  work  overseas  had 
been  discontinued  and  the  Transport  Service  brought 
to  a  close. 

The  task  of  withdrawing  from  the  camps  and  dis- 
posing of  buildings  and  property  was  in  charge  of  a 
Committee  on  Buildings  and  Salvage  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  A  Salvage  Division  was  organized  at 
National  Headquarters  to  administer  the  details  of 
this  work. 

The  field  supervisors  visited  the  camps  and  com- 
munities and  made  an  intensive  study  of  the  situation 
at  each  post  with  respect  to  the  advisability  of  closing 
camp  buildings,  disposing  of  automobiles  and  other 
equipment  and   removing  the  workers.     In  addition, 


68  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

the  field  supervisors  were  called  upon  to  ascertain  the 
need  for  continuing  activities  in  the  various  com- 
munities. The  National  Office  w^as  in  constant  com- 
munication with  the  local  Branches  in  order  to  keep 
continuously  informed  regarding  the  desirability  of 
contracting  or  concluding  the  activities  of  the  local 
organizations.  Retrenchment  conferences  of  the 
Executive  Staff  were  held  daily  to  consider  the  re- 
ports and  recommendations  of  the  field  supervisors, 
the  communications  from  the  Branch  officials  and 
the  latest  advices  and  announcements  from  the  War 
and  Navy  Departments. 

The  administration  was  thus  enabled  to  obtain  a  sur- 
vey of  the  entire  field  and  was  in  a  position  to  take 
immediate  and  responsive  action  with  respect  to  the 
situation  at  any  camp. 

Salvaging  Building  and  Equipment 

In  salvaging  the  buildings,  where  they  were  not 
required  by  the  Government,  authority  was  first 
secured  from  the  War  Department.  The  Chairman  of 
the  local  Branch  and,  in  some  instances,  the  field 
representative,  was  requested  to  solicit  bids.  All  bids, 
together  with  the  recommendations  of  the  Chairman 
or  representative,  were  submitted  to  the  National 
Office  for  consideration  and  action.  In  each  instance 
the  buildings  were  sold  to  the  highest  bidder. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  buildings  trans- 
ferred to  the  Government  or  salvaged : 

Buildings  Turned  Over  to  Army 20 

Camp  Custer  (including  equipment) 

Camp  Devens  " 

Camp  Dix  " 

Camp  Dodge  " 

Camp  Eujtis  " 

Camp  Funston  " 

Camp  Gordon  " 

Camp  Grant  " 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        69 


Camp  Humphreys   ( including  equipment ) 
Camp  Jackson  " 

Camp  Kearny  " 

Camp  McClellan  (part  equipment) 
Ft.  McHenry  (including  equipment) 
Camp  Meade 
Camp  Pike 
Camp  Raritan 
Camp  Sherman 
Camp  Travis 
Camp  Upton 
2bldgs. 

Buildings  Turned  Over  to  Navy 5 

Brooklyn,  69th  St.  Receiving  Station  (including  equipment) 
Newport  Naval  Station  " 

Norfolk   Naval   Base 
Parris  Island  (two  buildings) 

Buildings  Salvaged 23 

Camp  Beauregard 

Camp  Bowie 

Chickamauga  National  Park 

Camp  Fremont 

Great  Lakes  Naval  Station 
(equipment  to  Navy) 

Camp  Greene  ,. 

Camp  Hancock 

Camp  Johnston 

Camp  Logan 

Camp  McArthur 

Camp  Merritt 

Camp  Mills 

Camp  Sevier 

Pelham  Bay  Naval  Station 

Seward  Park 

Camp  Shelby 

Kelly  Field 

Camp  Lee 

Camp  Lewis 

(part  equipment  to  Army) 

Camp  Wheeler 

Camp  Sheridan 

Camp  Stuart 

Camp  Wadsworth 

Total  Number  of  Buildings  Erected 48 

As  for  furniture,  automobiles,  equipment  and  sup- 
plies,  wherever   possible,   these   articles   were   trans- 


70  ""  '      JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

ferred  to  other  camps  where  needed.  If  no  transfer 
could  be  effected,  the  various  items  were  also  sold  to 
the  highest  bidders. 

Demobilizing  Field  Personnel 

In  withdrawing  its  workers  from  the  field,  the 
Board  was  ever  mindful  of  the  diligence  and  loyalty 
of  these  men  and  women  and  in  appreciation  sought 
to  give  them  every  assistance  in  resuming  their  normal 
occupations  and  associations  in   civil  life. 

Where  the  War  Department  advised  that  a  camp 
would  be  closed  by  a  certain  day,  the  workers  at  that 
camp  were  given  a  four  weeks  notice  of  their  ensuing 
retirement.  In  all  other  instances  the  representative 
would  be  kept  at  his  post  until  the  need  for  welfare 
activities  there  had  ceased.  Provision  was  then  made 
for  the  granting  of  a  month's  salary  to  the  worker 
when  he  left  the  service  of  the  Board. 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  workers 
in  the  Home,  Transport  and  Overseas  Service  from 
the  period  immediately  subsequent  to  the  signing  of 
the  Armistice  to  January  1st,  1920,  indicating  the 
gradual  manner  in  which  the  workers  were  retired: 

Home      Transport  O'rseas 
Service        Service     Service 

November  15,  1918 265  . .  2 

April  1,  1919 242  7  139 

May  1,  1919 208  25  136 

June  1,  1919 177  28  156 

July  1,  1919 154  3  132 

August  1,  1919 116  ..  83 

September  1,  1919 88 

October  1,  1919 69 

November  1,  1919 55 

December  1,  1919 13 

January  1,  1920 2 

Auditing  and  Collection  of  Camp  Records 

Before  the  work  was  closed  at  any  camp,  a  careful 
audit  was  made  of  the  financial  accounts.    All  records. 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        71 

reports  and  files  were  collected  and  forwarded  to  the 
National  Office  for  transfer  to  the  permanent  files  of 
the  organization. 

Retrenchment-Community  Activities 

Corresponding  to  the  abandonment  of  camp  activi- 
ties was  the  reduction  in  the  scope  of  the  work  of  the 
Community  Branches.  As  the  enlisted  men  returned 
and  resumed  their  civilian  positions,  the  need  for  the 
war  ministrations  of  the  communities  decreased. 

The  steady  decline  of  Branch  activities  and  the 
decrease  in  the  amounts  expended  each  month  for 
community  service  are  revealed  in  the  following  table: 

Number  of  Branch 
Community  Branches  Subventions 

April,  1919 73  66,551.59 

May,    1919 6Z  43,028.11 

June,   1919 43  32,409.41 

July,   1919 38  20,662.64 

August,    1919 31  12,361.27 

September,    1919 17  8,167.68 

October,  1919 7  5,340.71 

November,  1919 6  2,325.50 

December,  1919 7  1,589.52 

January,   1920 4  778.19 

Reduction  of  Office  Personnel 

In  reducing  the  number  of  employees  of  the  Na- 
tional Staff,  consequent  upon  the  curtailment  of  the 
work  in  the  field,  a  practice  was  followed  similar  to 
that  pursued  in  connection  with  the  field  workers. 
The  office  staff  was  given  suitable  advance  notice  in 
each  instance  so  that  the  worker  could  make  other 
personal  adjustments. 

The  following  table  of  the  number  of  employees  at 
the  National  Headquarters  up  to  January  1,  1920, 
shows  the  gradual  reduction  that  was  made  in  the 
office  personnel  during  the  demobilization  period: 


72  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


Number  of  Employees 

November  15,  1918 157 

April  1,  1919 132 

May  1,  1919 125 

Tune  1,  1919 98 

July  1,  1919 82 

August  1,  1919 79 

September  1,   1919 66 

October  1,   1919 48 

November  1,  1919 36 

December  1,  1919 32 

January  1,  1920 21 

The  space  occupied  by  the  National  Headquarters 
in  November,  1919,  when  the  Government  took  over 
w^elfare  work,  was  less  than  one-third  of  the  space 
occupied  at  the  time  of  the  signing  of  the  Armistice, 
one  year  before. 

The  retirement  from  the  field  of  war  service  was 
a  task  of  no  small  dimensions.  A  large  organization 
created  virtually  over  night  had  to  be  domobilized  and 
in  the  process  the  welfare  and  contentment  of  the 
enlisted  men  could  not  be  neglected. 

It  was  necessary  to  maintain  a  sufficient  staff  at 
National  Headquarters  in  order  to  take  care  of  the 
salvaging,  the  auditing  of  records,  the  return  of  funds 
from  camps  and  communities,  the  preparation  of  offi- 
cial reports  and  many  other  matters  incidental  to  the 
withdrawal  from  the  camps,  and  also  to  continue  the 
welfare  activities  for  which  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board 
was  still  responsible  and  which  are  described  later  in 
this  report. 

Award  of  Certificates 

In  bringing  its  war  service  to  a  close,  it  was  felt 
that  formal  recognition  should  be  made  of  the  meri- 
torious services  of  the  representatives  and  co-workers 
throughout  the  country  and  that  this  recognition 
should  be  embodied  in  some  permanent  form.  The 
Executive  Committee  at  its  meeting  on  May  21,  1919, 
passed  a  resolution  providing  for  the  presentation  of  a 
certificate   of  meritorious   service  and   a  gold  pin   to 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        7Z 

those   who   had   rendered   substantial   service   to   the 
Board  for  a  period  of  at  least  three  months. 

In  accordance  with  this  resolution,  there  was  pre- 
sented to  the  field  representatives,  to  the  members  of 
the  communities,  whose  names  had  been  submitted  by 
the  local  Branches  as  worthy  of  the  honor,  to  the 
heads  of  departments  and  employees  at  the  National 
Office  who  had  served  more  than  six  months,  and  to 
volunteer  entertainers  who  had  helped  to  make  affairs 
at  the  camps  successful,  a  certificate,  together  with  a 
gold  pin.  This  certificate  testified  to  the  fact  that  it 
had  been  awarded  in  recognition  of  the  loyal  and 
patriotic  service  rendered  to  the  organization  by  the 
worker. 

Photographs,  Slides  and  Motion  Pictures 

During  the  course  of  its  activities,  the  Board  en- 
couraged, insofar  as  possible,  the  taking  of  photo- 
graphs of  the  various  phases  of  its  activities  in  camp, 
community,  hospital,  debarkation  center,  transport 
and  overseas.  Stereoptican  slides  were  made  of  the 
most  suitable  of  these  photographs  and  constitute  with 
them  a  graphic  story  of  the  work. 

As  a  permanent  record  of  the  work  of  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board,  a  motion  picture  film  has  been  com- 
pleted, depicting  and  illustrative  of  its  welfare  opera- 
tions. This  picture  is  historical  in  its  portrayal  of 
the  part  taken  by  the  organization  in  welfare  service 
during  the  Great  War.  A  copy  of  this  film  will  be 
filed  in  the  archives  of  the  War  and  Navy  De- 
partments. 

Reports 

The  Board  has  been  frequently  called  upon  for  a 
history  of  its  organization  and  activities.  Such  reports 
have  been  requested  by  and  furnished  to  a  number 
of  Divisions  of  the  War  and  Navy  Departments,  to 


74  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

the  French  Government,  War  Camp  Community  Ser- 
vice, and  to  numerous  national  and  state  historical 
societies,  and  to  other  official  organizations. 

WELFARE  SERVICE  IN  PEACE  TIME 

When  the  conduct  of  the  welfare  work  within  the 
camps  was  taken  over  by  the  War  and  Navy  Depart- 
ments on  November  1,  1919,  and  January  1,  1920, 
respectively,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  determined 
that  the  uniformed  men  of  Jewish  faith  should  con- 
tinue to  have  insofar  as  possible  the  benefit  of  its 
ministrations  in  the  camp,  and  as  requested  by  both 
Departments,  in  the  community  as  well.  There  was 
obviously  no  less  need  for  the  continuance  of  the  help- 
ful, friendly  interest  of  the  Jewish  community  in  its 
sons  in  the  Army  and  Navy.  Clearly,  therefore,  the 
organization  had  a  definite  responsibility,  which  it  has 
sought  to  meet  during  these  recent  months,  in  spite  of 
many  difficulties  which  were  created  by  the  change  of 
the  military  forces  from  the  war  to  a  peace  basis  and 
by  the  organization  and  re-organization  in  the  War 
and  Navy  Departments  of  Divisions  to  look  specifi- 
cally   after   soldier   and   sailor   work. 

It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  Board  to  meet  primarily 
those  Jewish  needs  which  naturally  were  unprovided 
for  by  the  non-sectarian  welfare  program  of  the  Gov- 
ernment Departments. 

Assistance  to  Army  and  Navy  Morale  Administration 

As  previously  referred  to,  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board,  in  its  desire  to  assist  the  Government,  turned 
over  to  the  Army  and  Navy  such  buildings  and  equip- 
ment as  were  needed  to  continue  the  morale  program. 

When  the  Army  and  Navy  Departments  requested 
additional  funds  to  conduct  welfare  work,  pending 
the  receipt  of  congressional  appropriations,  the  Com- 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        75 

mittee  of  Eleven,  on  which  Mr.  Mortimer  L.  Schiff 
was  the  representative  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board, 
after  investigation,  voted  that  each  welfare  agency 
should  contribute  on  the  basis  of  the  proportionate 
share  of  work  that  each  was  conducting  at  that  time 
inside  the  camps.  Detailed  budgets  submitted  by  both 
departments  were  reviewed  and  the  sum  of  $2,864,000 
was  allotted  to  the  Government  by  the  welfare 
agencies  for  its  educational  and  recreational  activities. 
Of  this  amount,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  contributed 
$137,170  to  the  Army  and  $40,400  to  the  Navy,  making 
a  total  of  $177,570. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  when  the  Army  reor- 
ganized its  welfare  program  and  chose  its  supervising 
personnel,  two  former  field  representatives  of  the 
Board  were  selected  as  educational  and  recreational 
supervisors  in  two  out  of  the  nine  Corps  Areas  in  the 
country. 

Personal  Service  Continued 

The  many  post-war  problems  of  the  ex-soldier  and 
his  family  are  receiving  solicitous  consideration.  The 
Personal  Service  Division  at  National  Headquarters 
is  at  the  present  time  handling  approximately  three 
hundred  pending  cases  each  month.  These  matters  are 
referred  by  the  individuals  themselves,  who  call  at  the 
National  Office,  by  the  field  representatives  of  the 
Board,  and  by  soldiers  in  the  camps.  A  worker  is  sta- 
tioned at  Washington,  D.  C.,  to  facilitate  contact  with 
the  various  divisions  of  the  Government  in  connection 
with  these  activities,  especially  with  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance. 

Present  Contact  With  Service  Men 

Very  shortly  after  the  Board  was  asked  by  the  War 
and  Navy  Departments  to  continue  its  interest  in  the 
uniformed  men,  particularl}-  in  providing  suitable  com- 


Id  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

munity  activities,  a  field  investigation  was  made 
to  determine  v^^hat  were  at  present  the  special  needs 
Of  the  Jewish  men  in  the  service.  The  result  of  this 
investigation  which  was  supplemented  by  many  com- 
munications received  from  soldiers,  morale  officers  and 
chaplains  throughout  the  country  made  clear  the 
necessity  for  the  continuation  of  the  service  of  the 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  in  meeting  the  special  problems 
of  the  men  of  Jewish  faith  in  the  Army  and  Navy. 

Accordingly,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1920,  the 
National  Office  communicated  with  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  various  posts  throughout  the  United 
States  and  advised  them  that  it  was  desirous  of  con- 
tinuing its  co-operation  and  assistance  to  the  men  in 
the  service,  particularly  to  help  the  Jewish  men  to 
preserve  their  religious  life. 

The  Commanders  were  advised  that  the  organiza- 
tion was  prepared  to  supply  Prayer  Books,  Bibles  and 
Jewish  Literature  and  also  to  assist  in  the  celebration 
of  the  Jewish  holidays.  It  was  suggested  that  a  Jewish 
man  at  each  post  should  be  designated  to  act  in  a  liai- 
son capacity  between  his  comrades  of  the  Jewish  faith 
and  this  Board.  The  Naval  and  Military  officials  ex- 
pressed their  hearty  approval  and  endorsement  of  this 
offer  of  co-operation.  In  addition,  the  co-operation  of 
the  communities  adjacent  to  camps  and  naval  stations 
was  enlisted. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  is  at  present  in  contact 
with  eighty-four  camps  and  naval  posts  and  eleven 
hospitals  throughout  the  United  States.  In  addition 
it  is  active  in  behalf  of  the  men  in  the  Canal  Zone,  the 
Philippines,  and  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors  stationed 
in  Hawaii. 

Ministrations  are  made  available  at  those  points 
through  seventy-four  keymen,  who  are  soldiers  desig- 
nated by  the  Camp  Commander  to  act  as  informal 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  representatives  at  the  particular 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        77 

post ;  through  eleven  chaplains,  five  morale  officers  and 
four  commanding  officers,  vjho  keep  the  National 
Office  constantly  advised  of  the  needs  of  the  men.  The 
soldiers'  vv^elfare  at  one  of  the  posts  is  looked  after  by 
the  community  Branch  nearby. 

In  addition  to  this  co-operation,  there  are  three  paid 
workers,  stationed  at  the  Walter  Reed  Hospital, 
Washington,  D.  C,  at  the  Hospital,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y., 
and  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  and  surrounding  posts. 

There  has  been  sent  for  distribution  among  the 
men  at  these  posts  during  the  year  1,357  soldiers 
Bibles,  1,069  Prayer  Books,  hundreds  of  Jewish  cal- 
endars, Hebrew  grammars,  and  Menorah  candlesticks. 
A  portable  organ  was  furnished  to  one  post-  Seventy 
Yiddish  books  and  twenty  English  books  have  been 
forwarded  to  the  camps,  together  with  English  news- 
papers and  magazines  of  Jewish  interest.  Checker, 
chess,  and  domino  sets  have  been  provided. 

When  the  War  and  Navy  Departments  took  over 
welfare  work,  they  provided  stationery  for  the  enlisted 
men.  However  the  Board  donated  approximately 
2,000,000  letterheads  and  envelopes  which  it  had  in 
stock,  to  the  Navy  Department.  Since  then  at  the 
special  request  of  the  keymen  in  the  camps,  additional 
quantities  of  stationery  have  been  sent. 

As  further  activities  in  the  camp  program,  arrange- 
ments have  been  made  for  the  holding  of  religious 
services  and  the  conduct  of  personal  service  work. 

At  the  larger  hospitals  the  usual  ministrations  are 
being  continued  in  behalf  of  the  sick  and  convalescent. 
The  representatives  and  several  of  the  community 
Branches  are  continuing  to  furnish  the  men  with  every 
influence  that  will  add  to  their  comfort  and  happiness. 

Community  Interest  Maintained 

Community  activities  have  been  encouraged  where- 
ever  the  soldier  needs  have  required  the  continuance 


78  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

of  this  work.  Although  at  the  present  time  there  are 
only  three  Branches  conducting  the  full  program  of 
welfare  service,  eighteen  communities  in  addition,  are 
co-operating  with  the  special  representatives  (key- 
men)  at  the  nearby  camps  in  taking  care  of  the  re- 
ligious, social  and  recreational  requirements  of  the 
enlisted  men. 

Through  the  generosity  of  the  communities,  soldiers 
and  sailors  are  invited  to  enjoy  home  hospitality  and 
are  also  welcome  guests  at  the  community  entertain- 
ments and  socials.  In  connection  with  the  hospitals, 
refreshments,  delicacies  and  reading  material  are  sup- 
plied to  the  patients.  Rabbis  from  the  towns  and  cities 
are  visiting  neighboring  camps  to  conduct  services 
wherever  satisfactory  arrangements  have  been  ef- 
fected. 

At  San  Diego,  California,  where  there  is  an  un- 
usually large  soldier  and  sailor  population,  the  Board 
has  recently  authorized  the  transfer  of  its  building 
from  Camp  Kearny  into  that  city  where  it  will  be 
used  as  a  Center  for  the  soldier  sand  sailors  in  that 
vicinity. 

Passover  5680-1920 

The  arrangements  made  for  the  celebration  of  Pass- 
over during  the  past  year  clearly  demonstrated  the 
essential  character  of  the  Board's  services,  particularly 
in  meeting  the  religious  requirements  of  soldiers  and 
sailors  of  Jewish  faith. 

Upon  the  representations  of  the  Board,  the  War 
and  Navy  Departments  granted  furloughs  to  men  of 
Jewish  faith  for  the  Passover  celebration  and  in- 
structed the  commanding  officers  to  lend  their  assist- 
ance and  co-operation  to  the  Board  in  the  distribution 
of  matzoth  and  Haggadahs  supplied  by  the  organiza- 
tion. Altogether  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  distrib- 
uted 25,560  pounds  of  matzoth  and  5,531  Haggadahs. 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        79 

The  military  and  naval  officials  were  very  generous 
in  their  assistance,  in  many  instances  taking  a  personal 
interest  in  the  supervision  of  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments. At  one  hospital  where  there  were  over  200 
men  of  the  Jewish  faith,  the  commanding  officer  or- 
dered specially  prepared  kosher  meals  to  be  served 
to  these  men  throughout  the  Passover  week. 

The  community  Branches  assisted  in  the  observance 
of  the  holiday  by  inviting  to  private  homes  men  who 
could  not  go  to  their  families  and  in  arranging  seders 
for  those  who  could  not  be  accommodated  in  homes. 
Special  community  Seder  celebrations  for  uniformed 
men  were  arranged  in  twelve  cities  adjacent  to  camps 
and  in  the  Canal  Zone.  Following  its  customary  prac- 
tice the  Board  reimbursed  the  communities  for  the 
expense  of  providing  meals  and  lodging. 

High  Holidays  5681-1920 

The  5681-1920  celebration  of  Rosh  Hashanah  and 
Yom  Kippur  afforded  another  opportunity  for  provid- 
ing for  the  religious  needs  of  Jewish  men  in  the  mili- 
tary and  naval  service.  In  conformity  with  previous 
practice,  the  matter  of  furloughs  for  the  holidays  was 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  War  and  Navy  De- 
partments. At  the  request  of  the  Board  the  War 
Department  granted  a  leave  of  eighty-four  hours  and 
the  Navy  Department  authorized  a  leave  of  ninety- 
six  hours  for  the  celebration  of  Rosh  Hashanah,  and  a 
similar  period  for  the  observance  of  the  Day  of 
Atonement. 

The  situation  this  year  was  different  from  previous 
years.  There  were  no  official  representatives  of  the 
organization  through  whom  arrangements  could  be 
made  for  the  holidays.  It  was  therefore  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  every  possible  step  be  taken  to  as- 
sure adequate  arrangements,  particularly  for  those 
who  could  not  go  home  on  furlough.    Communications 


80  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

were  sent  to  the  commanding  officers,  chairman  of 
former  Branches  and  the  soldier  keymen  at  various 
posts  and  hospitals  throughout  the  country,  soliciting 
their  co-operation  in  effecting  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  the  holidays  in  behalf  of  those  men  who 
could  not  take  advantage  of  the  furlough  and  return 
to  their  homes. 

At  several  posts  and  at  the  larger  hospitals,  the 
Board  conducted  religious  services.  In  the  majority 
of  cases,  through  the  co-operation  of  the  local 
Branch,  the  men  were  invited  to  religious  services  at 
the  synagogues  and  temples  in  the  community.  In 
addition,  the  Branches,  as  usual  under  the  circum- 
stances, provided  home  hospitality,  or  otherwise  in^ 
sured  kosher  meals  for  the  men  during  the  New  Year 
and  on  the  eve  and  night  of  the  Day  of  Atonement. 
The  Board  expended  over  $6,500  to  provide  meals  and 
lodgings  for  the  men  where  there  were  no  adjacent 
communities  to  assist. 

Special  Holyday  Prayer  Books  were  supplied  for 
the  observance  and  10,000  New  Year's  cards  were  dis- 
tributed for  the   use   of   the   soldiers. 

A  feature  of  the  celebration  of  these  holidays,  was 
the  holding  of  religious  services  for  the  Jewish  soldiers 
stationed  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands.  Under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  a  Rabbinic  student 
was  sent  to  Honolulu,  where  seventy-five  Jewish  men 
attended  the  first  religious  services  ever  held  on  the 
Island  for  the  United  States  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the 
Jewish   faith. 

The  arrangements  for  the  men  stationed  on  the 
Mexican  Border  are  also  worthy  of  mention.  Through 
the  co-operation  of  the  community,  arrangements  were 
made  whereby  all  the  men  stationed  along  the  Border 
were  concentrated  for  the  holidays  at  a  central  place 
where  services  were  conductd  and  meals  and  lodging 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        81 

provided.     Similar   arrangements   were   made   in   the 
Canal  Zone. 

Graves  Registration  Work 

In  February  of  1918  the  War  Department  had  issued 
a  general  order  to  the  effect  that  the  graves  of  Jevs^ish 
soldier  dead  w^ere  to  be  marked  with  the  six-pointed 
Star  of  David  (Magen  David)  in  conformity  with 
similar  practice  of  the  allied  countries. 

This  order  was  reiterated  in  a  cable  communication 
by  General  Pershing  sent  to  the  Adjutant  General, 
July  29,  1918,  a  copy  of  which  was  referred  to  the 
Cemeterial  Branch  of  the  War  Department,  as  follows : 

"Reference  paragraph  7  your  cablegram  1734, 
instructions  issued  in  February  last  to  Chaplains, 
Quartermasters  and  Chiefs  of  Graves  Registration 
Units  and  Groups,  A.  E.  F.,  prescribed  permanent 
headboards  for  deceased  Hebrew  soldiers  to  con- 
form in  shape,  size,  finish  and  painting  to  Army 
Regulations  495,  Officers  of  Graves  Registration 
Service  have  been  instructed  to  substitute  such 
headboards  for  any  crosses  that  may  have  inad- 
vertently been  placed  on  Jewish  graves.  (C.  Q. 
M.  1013.)" 

Because  of  the  exigencies  of  warfare,  and  because 
there  was  no  information  in  the  records  of  the  Amer- 
ican Red  Cross  or  the  Cemeterial  Division  as  to  the 
religious  faith  of  the  members  of  the  A.  E.  F.,  it  was 
extremely  difficult  to  identify  the  Jewish  dead.  In  the 
hurried  burials  it  was  to  be  expected  that  many  graves 
of  Jewish  dead  would  not  be  marked  with  the  Magen 
David. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  undertook  to  ascertain 
who  among  the  dead  were  of  the  Jewish  faith,  so  that 
the  graves  of  these  men  would  be  properly  marked  by 
the  headboard  designated  for  the  Jewish  dead. 


82  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

This  task  was  undertaken  in  France  in  May,  1919, 
by  a  special  corps  of  workers  in  co-operation  and  with 
the  sanction  of  the  Cemeterial  Division  of  the  War 
Department,  formerly  known  as  the  Graves  Registra- 
tion Service. 

At  about  this  time,  the  Central  Records  Office  of 
the  A.  E.  F.  began  to  move  all  of  its  data  to  this 
country,  and  the  Cemeterial  Division  had  already  be- 
gun its  task  of  concentrating  the  bodies  of  soldier  dead 
in  American  Military  Cemeteries.  As  a  result,  it  was 
no  longer  possible  for  the  Graves  Registration  Bureau 
of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  to  make  an  extended 
investigation  in  France. 

The  work  was  accordingly  transferred  to  this  coun- 
try in  September  of  1919  and  was  continued  on  a  large 
scale  with  infinite  care.  It  was  a  task  surrounded 
with  many  difficulties.  It  was  necessary  to  examine 
every  casualty  record  of  the  wounded,  dead  and  miss- 
ing. The  corps  of  workers  sent  by  the  Board  to 
Washington,  reviewed  over  400,000  records  in  the  files 
of  the  American  Red  Cross,  and  over  75,000  records 
of  the  Cemeterial  Division.  From  these  records, 
names  of  soldiers  or  of  nearest  relatives  of  soldiers 
that  appeared  to  be  Jewish,  were  selected  for  inves- 
tigation. 

Wide  publicity  has  been  given  to  the  efforts  of  the 
Board  to  secure  information  regarding  Jewish  dead. 
Through  the  assistance  and  co-operation  of  parents, 
relatives,  synagogues,  Jewish  Centers  and  lodges,  and 
of  the  local  Branches  of  the  Board,  additional  names 
have  been  obtained.  Personal  investigations  wherever 
possible,  and  direct  communications  with  families  or 
persons  whose  emergency  addresses  appear  on  the  War 
Department  records,  have  likewise  proved  helpful 
sources  of  information. 

In  each  instance  where  the  identity  of  the  soldier 
has  been   definitely  determined,   the   National   Office 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        83 

makes  proper  certification  of  this  fact  to  the  Cemeterial 
Division  which  accepts  this  certification  as  conclusive 
evidence  of  the  faith  of  the  deceased,  so  that  the  head- 
board may  be  changed  if  the  grave  is  incorrectly 
marked.  Thus  far  a  total  of  over  1,500  names  have 
been  certified  as  of  Jewish  men  who  have  found  an 
eternal  resting  place  overseas.  Additional  names  are 
being  constantly  recorded. 

The  Cemeterial  Division  concerned  itself  chiefly 
with  the  task  of  marking  graves  and  with  cemeterial 
care.  The  duty  of  photographing  the  graves  was  as- 
signed to  the  Photographic  Section  of  the  American 
Red  Cross.  A  photograph  of  each  grave  was  made 
by 'that  organization  and  sent  to  this  country  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  family  of  the  soldier.  In  the  absence 
of  adequate  information  photographs  of  crosses  mark- 
ing graves  of  Jewish  dead  were  being  released  to 
families  in  this  country. 

In  this  connection  the  Board  was  enabled  to  render 
another  important  service  in  reference  to  the  soldier 
dead.  On  the  representations  of  the  Jewish  Welfare 
Board  to  the  American  Red  Cross,  that  organization 
extending  every  co-operation,  agreed  not  to  forward 
photographs  of  probably  Jewish  dead  so  that  the 
Board  might  investigate  and  ascertain  the  religious 
affiliation  of  the  deceased.  As  the  Red  Cross  had  dis- 
continued its  photographic  work,  the  Board  became 
responsible  for  taking  new  photographs  and  trans- 
mitting them  to  the  families.  A  representative  was 
sent  to  France  by  the  Board,  who  is  at  present  sta- 
tioned there  to  complete  the  task  of  photographing 
the  correctly  marked  graves  of  American  soldiers  of 
the  Jewish  faith.  Photographs  are  being  regularly  re- 
ceived by  the  National  Office  of  the  Board  for  trans- 
mission to  the  families. 

With  the  return  of  the  bodies  of  Jewish  soldier  dead 
for  final  interment  in  the  United  States,  the  organiza- 


84  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

tion  has  been  called  upon  to  render  additional  service 
and  assistance  to  the  families  of  these  dead.  The 
Graves  Registration  Bureau  of  the  Board  guides  the 
families  in  correspondence  with  the  Cemeterial  Divi- 
sion, makes  arrangements  for  military  escort  of  the 
body  to  the  Jewish  cemetery,  assigns  a  rabbi  wherever 
requested  to  officiate  at  the  funeral  ceremony,  arranges 
for  participation  by  the  local  community  and  in  count- 
less other  ways,  seeks  to  facilitate  the  last  services  for 
the  men  who  lost  their  lives  in  our  country's  cause. 

Included  in  the  number  of  bodies  that  vv^ill  not  be 
returned  to  this  country,  there  are  many  men  of  the 
Jewish  faith.  The  Board  will  seek  to  make  suitable 
provision  for  the  care  of  these  graves  and  for  such 
religious  service  as  is  required  by  Jewish  tradition  and 
sentiment.  There  are  man}^  other  problems  incidental 
to  this  work  that  still  demand  attention. 

The  late  Colonel  Harry  Cutler  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  was  on  his  way  to  France  to  supervise  the 
Graves  Registration  work  and  to  expedite  its  com- 
pletion. His  untimely  passing  caused  a  postponement 
of  this  plan.  However,  the  Board  has  been  fortunate 
in  having  obtained  the  services  of  Captain  Elkan  Voor- 
sanger,  who  recently  sailed  for  Europe  in  behalf  of  the 
Joint  Distribution  Committee.  Captain  Voorsanger, 
who  is  familiar  with  this  work,  will  make  necessary 
arrangements  to  facilitate  its  early  and  satisfactory 
consummation. 

The  Board  is  constantly  expanding  its  program  of 
Army  and  Navy  work,  increasing  the  number  of  sol- 
dier representatives  and  extending  its  service  daily  to 
more  camps  and  naval  stations  in  this  country  and  in 
the  insular  possessions. 

The  spiritual  and  cultural  needs  of  the  men  we  seek 
to  meet  by  every  measure  possible  under  the  circum- 
stances. Special  emphasis  is  laid  on  appropriate  cele- 
bration of  Jewish  holidays  so  that  whatever  can  be 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        85 

done  is  done  to  conserve  the   religious   influence  of 
civilian  life. 

Every  effort  is  made  to  secure  the  interest  of  the 
community  in  the  men  stationed  at  neighboring-  posts 
in  order  that  they  may  continue  a  wholesome  contact 
with  civilian  social  life  amidst  Jewish  surroundings. 


THE  WAR  RECORD  OF  AMERICAN  JEWS 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  realized  the  importance 
of  establishing,  as  a  function  of  its  welfare  w^ork,  an 
authentic  record  of  Jewish  participation  in  the  war,  to 
serve  as  an  instrument  of  morale  during  the  conflict, 
and  as  an  enduring  memorial  after  the  war. 

To  this  end  the  Board  undertook  the  active  support 
of  the  Bureau  of  Jewish  War  Records  that  was  estab- 
lished by  the  American  Jewish  Committee  exclusively 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  such  data.  It  has  been 
the  main  source  of  the  Bureau's  financial  resources  and 
has  contributed  up  to  September  1,.  1920,  $99,633.09 
toward  maintaining  this  agency. 

The  undertaking  was  attended  with  problems  of 
exceptional  difficulty.  As  is  well  known,  the  official 
records  of  the  Army  and  Navy  were  not  accessible 
during  the  war,  while  unofficial  lists  were  not  in 
existence.  The  Jews  in  the  service  came  from  every 
section,  city  and  village  in  the  country,  were  scattered 
in  every  branch  of  the  service,  in  many  cases  were  not 
affiliated  with  any  known  Jewish  organizations  or 
institutions.  The  collection  of  their  names  involved, 
therefore,  the  organization  of  a  systematic  search 
among  the  men  in  the  camps  and  at  the  front,  and 
among  their  friends  and  relatives  at  home. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  conducted  through  its 
field  representatives  and  community  Branches  inten- 
-sive  campaigns  for  the  registration  of  Jewish  soldiers, 


86  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

sailors  and  marines.  Registration  cards  were  dis- 
tributed to  field  representatives  in  camps  of  this  coun- 
try and  abroad,  in  the  communities  and  on  the  trans- 
ports. Conspicuous  notices  were  posted  in  the  camp 
buildings  and  community  Centers,  calling  upon  the 
soldiers  and  sailors  to  register.  The  field  workers 
were  instructed  to  forward  all  information  of  a  statisti- 
cal character  gathered  by,  or  known  to  them — includ- 
ing religious  census  taken  by  the  Board,  or  by  other 
agencies,  furlough  records  for  Jewish  holidays,  and 
individual  registration  cards  signed  by  the  Jewish  sol- 
diers. Through  its  examination  of  the  casualty  rec- 
ords of  the  War  Department,  the  Graves  Registration 
Bureau  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  was  able  to  add 
many  names  of  Jewish  service  men. 

These  continuous  activities  on  the  part  of  the  field 
workers  resulted  in  the  transfer  to  the  Bureau  of 
War  Records  of  some  eighty  thousand  registration 
cards  of  men  in  the  service. 

The  office  of  the  Bureau  of  War  Records,  on  the 
other  hand,  concentrated  upon  the  families  and 
friends  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors  in  the  United  States. 
To  this  end  it  enlisted  the  co-operation  of  all  religious, 
fraternal,  industrial  and  labor  organizations  through- 
out the  country,  distributing  among  them  several  mil- 
lion registration  cards,  calling  for  information  as  to 
name  of  soldier,  home  and  service  address,  age,  nativ- 
ity, branch  of  service,  rank,  regiment,  company,  date 
of  induction,  of  discharge,  whether  volunteered  or 
drafted,  in  what  actions  engaged,  and  whether 
wounded,  cited  or  promoted. 

In  addition,  the  Office  of  the  Bureau  of  War  Records 
instituted  a  press  clipping  service  for  the  collection  of 
data  as  to  all  reports  of  enlistments,  service  flag  dedi- 
cations, honor  rolls,  and  all  other  possible  sources  of 
information.  All  army  orders  and  assignments, 
casualty  lists,  the  records  of  local  draft  boards,  the 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        87 

Red  Cross  lists  and  similar  sources  were  thoroughly 
searched  and  followed  up  for  possible  clues. 

From  all  these  sources  there  were  gathered  more 
than  500,000  records.  These  have  been  systematically 
collated  and,  after  duplicates  were  eliminated,  copied 
in  triplicate  and  filed  in  three  separate  catalogues — 
one  arranged  alphabetically,  another  by  branches  of 
service,  and  a  third  by  states,  cities  and  towns.  At 
present  the  collection  covers  about  150,000  records, 
net — that  is,  individual  records  of  soldiers,  sailors  and 
marines,  freed  of  all  duplications ;  about  25,000  press 
clippings  systematically  arranged ;  numerous  photo- 
graphs, letters  and  documents  of  historical  value ;  and 
about  15,000  questionnaires  (holographic,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions) embodying  the  fullest  information  as  to 
individual  service  histories,  particularly  in  the  cases 
of  casualties  and  citations. 

The  Bureau  of  War  Records  reports  that  the  process 
of  gathering  and  verifying  the  data  is  still  under  way, 
hence  it  is  as  yet  impossible  to  furnish  definite  figures 
bearing  upon  the  American  Jews  in  the  war.  Certain 
preliminary  findings  have  been  published,  however,  in 
a  First  Report  of  the  Office  of  Jewish  War  Records, 
which  may  be  had  upon  application.  These  findings 
indicate  that  the  record  of  Jewish  service  in  the  war 
was  remarkable  in  several  respects : 

1.  The  total  number  of  Jews  in  the  service  dur- 
ing the  war  may  be  conservatively  estimated,  on 
the  basis  of  available  evidence,  at  from  200,000 
to  225,000. 

2.  Proportionately,  although  they  constitute  but 
three  per  cent  of  the  total  population  of  the  United 
States,  they  have  contributed  more  than  four  per 
cent  of  the  armed  forces  of  the  United  States 
which,  on  Armistice  Day  numbered  4,800,000. 

3.  The   volunteer  spirit   appears   to   have   been 


88  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

the  principal  factor  in  this  contribution.  Accord- 
ing to  the  best  evidence  there  were  nearly  40,000 
Jewish  volunteers  in  the  service,  or  practically 
twenty  per  cent  of  the  total  Jewish  contingent. 

4.  The  record  of  honors  conferred  upon  Jewish 
soldiers  for  valor  in  action  is  notable.  No  less 
than  1,100  citations  far  valor  are  on  file  in  the 
office  of  Jewish  War  Records.  Of  these  723  were 
conferred  by  the  American  command,  28?  by  the 
French,  33  by  the  British,  and  46  by  various  other 
allied  commands.  Of  the  most  valued,  Congres- 
sional Medal  of  Honor — of  which  only  78  have 
been  conferred  to  date — at  least  three  were 
awarded  to  Jewish  soldiers.  The  Distinguished 
Service  Cross  is  worn  by  at  least  150  American 
Jews,  the  rare  French  Medaille  Militaire  by  four 
American  Jews,  and  the  Croix  de  Guerre  by  174 
Jews  in  the  A.  E.  F. 

5.  Nearly  10,000  Jews  were  commissioned  of- 
ficers in  the  several  branches  of  the  service.  In 
the  Army  there  were  more  than  100  colonels  and 
lieutenant  colonels,  more  than  540  majors,  1,400 
captains,  and  over  7,000  lieutenants.  In  the  Navy 
500  Jews  were  commissioned  officers,  the  highest 
rank  reached  being  that  of  Read  Admiral.  In  the 
Marine  Corps  60  Jews  were  commissioned  officers, 
including  one  Brigadier-General. 

6.  The  total  of  casualties,  among  Jewish  men, 
according  to  the  latest  estimates,  was  from  13,000 
to  14,000,  including  about  2,800  Avho  made  the 
supreme  sacrifice. 

The  record  thus  confirms  to  the  world  on  the  basis 
of  indisputable  evidence,  the  facts  already  familiar  to 
the  workers  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  who  were 
in  intimate  contact  with  the  men  at  the  front — that 
the  Jews  of  America,  when  the  call  came,  answered 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        89 

readily,  served  gallantl}^  and,  in  their  numbers,  died 
bravely  for  the  United  States. 


FUTURE  WORK  OF  THE  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

In  September  1920  the  following  announcement 
dealing  with  the  future  work  and  development  of  the 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  and  the  National  Council  of 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  and  Kindred  Association,  was 
issued  to  the  public  by  the  Joint  Conference  Com- 
mittee representative  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  and  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers of  the  Council  of  Y.  M.  H.  &  K.  A. : 

"After  the  signing  of  the  Armistice,  the  Jewish  Wel- 
fare Board  engaged  upon  a  comprehensive  program 
of  demobilization  work  in  camps  and  communities,  and 
with  the  passing  of  this  phase  of  the  war  emergency, 
the  Executive  Committee  decided  upon  the  selection  of 
a  Committee  on  Post-War  Program  to  undertake  a 
careful  study  of  the  entire  situation  with  respect  to 
the  Board's  responsibility  for  soldier  and  sailor  work, 
and  to  the  Jewish  Community  as  such,  during  peace- 
time. As  members  of  this  Committee,  the  Chairman 
appointed  Justice  Irving  Lehman  of  New  York,  who 
acted  as  Chairman,  Mr.  Louis  E.  Kirstein  of  Boston 
and  Mr.  Charles  Hartman  of  New  York. 

"Many  of  the  Community  Branches  of  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  and  prominent  Jewish  leaders,  fully 
impressed  by  the  success  of  the  co-operative  war  effort 
of  the  Jewish  national  organizations  represented  in  the 
Jewish  Welfare  Board,  expressed  the  desire  that  the 
results  of  this  united  harmonious  effort  should  not  be 
lost  in  peace-time.  The  Secretary  of  War  and  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  expressed  themselves  similarly, 
and  both  Departments  requested  that  the  Jewish  Wei- 


90  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

fare  Board,  in  common  with  the  other  welfare  organ- 
izations,  continue  the  conduct  of  community  activi- 
ties in  behalf  of  service  men. 

"The  Committee  on  Post-War  Program  concluded 
that  in  order  to  offer  to  ex-service  men  and  to  mem- 
bers of  the  Jewish  community  in  general  full  oppor- 
tunity for  self-development  and  social  activity,  and  to 
the  uniformed  men  now  in  the  service  appropriate 
recreation  and  entertainment  when  on  leave  in  the 
communities,  suitable  Jewish  Centers  must  be  made 
available.  The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  has  therefore  decided  that  in  addition 
to  the  continuance  of  its  work,  insofar  as  the  same 
may  be  permitted,  in  Army  and  Navy  camps,  it  would 
undertake  the  work  of  developing  such  Centers  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  country.  These  Centers  should  be 
based  on  no  particular  form  of  Jewish  religious  point 
of  view  and  should  be  restricted  to  no  particular  group 
of  members,  but  should  furnish  a  common  meeting 
ground  for  all  the  Jews  of  the  community  and  main- 
tain those  activities  which  would  contribute  to  their 
welfare  and  development  and  to  the  strengthening  of 
their  Jewish  consciousness  as  a  constructive  force  in 
American  life. 

"The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  has  adopted  a  program 
to  provide  expert  assistance  in  the  activities  being 
carried  on  by  such  institutions  already  in  existence, 
and  to  organize  and  assist  in  campaigns  for  the  erec- 
tion of  new  Centers  wherever  required-  It  will  seek 
to  do  this  work  with  the  co-operation  of  all  forces 
within  the  community,  and  insofar  as  other  national 
organizations  may  be  conducting  in  whole  or  in  part 
work  which  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  contemplates 
doing  in  the  future,  it  must  endeavor  to  arrange  to 
avoid  all  unnecessary  duplication  of  work.  In  con- 
sonance with  this  plan,  a  conference  was  recently 
held  of  committees  representing  the  National  Council 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE         91 

of  Young  Men's  Hebrew  &  Kindred  Associations  and 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  at  which  it  was  agreed  that 
the  work  now  being  conducted  by  the  National  Coun- 
cil of  Young  Men's  Hebrew  &  Kindred  Associations 
should  be  continued  by  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board, 
but  upon  the  express  condition  that  all  constructive 
accomplishments  of  the  Council  should  be  preserved, 
and  that  each  Center  be  assured  full  autonomy.  It  is 
also  planned  that  the  Centers  be  given  a  voice  in  the 
election  of  members  of  the  governing  committee  of 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board. 

"The  details  of  the  plan  will  be  submitted  to  the 
full  membership  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  at  its 
annual  meeting  and  to  a  convention  of  the  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  &  Kindred  Associations,  both  to  be 
held  in  the  fall. 

"The  undersigned  feel  that  the  above  plan  holds  out 
promise  for  the  development  of  a  strong  national 
organization  that  will  promote  and  advance  the  Jewish 
Center  movement  in  America  in  the  broadest  spirit 
of  Judaism  and  Americanism.  Such  an  organization, 
with  the  moral  support  of  the  Jewish  community  of 
America  and  with  adequate  funds  and  personnel, 
would  meet  an  outstanding  and  insistent  need  that  has 
continuallv  made  itself  more  manifest  as  Educational 
AlHances,  Y.  M.  H.  A's.,  Y.  W.  H.  A's.,  Jewish  Centers 
and  the  like  have  increased  in  number  and  enlarged 
their  activities,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  communities 
and  national  organizations  will  now  lend  themselves 
heartily  to  the  furtherance  of  this  effort. 

[Signed] 

Felix  M.  Warburg  Harry  Cutler 

Mrs.  Israel  Unterberg  Irving  Lehman 

Charles  Hartman  Carl  Dreyfus 

Cyrus  Adler  I.  Edwin  Goldwasser 


In  accordance  with  this  announcement,  Judge  Leh- 


92  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

man.  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Post-War  Pro- 
gram of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  will  present  today 
details  of  the  plan  as  submitted  by  this  Committee 
and  as  approved  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  and  the  Board  of  Managers  of 
the  Council  of  Y.  M.  H.  &  K.  A.  If  the  proposed 
project  is  approved  by  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  mem- 
bership and  by  the  convention  of  constituent  organ- 
izations of  the  Council  of  Y.  M.  H.  &  K.  A.,  also  meet- 
ing today,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  will  cheerfully 
assume  the  responsibility  which  will  thereby  be 
vouchsafed  to  it,  to  serve  the  Jewish  people  of  the 
communities,  while  at  the  same  time  it  continues  to 
provide  for  the  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines  the  social, 
religious  and  spiritual  influences  so  essential  to  their 
welfare. 


IN  APPRECIATION 

It  is  with  a  deep  sense  of  pleasure  and  appreciation 
that  grateful  acknowledgement  is  made  to  all  who  by 
their  money,  thought,  labor  and  inspiration,  helped  to 
make  the  organization  an  efficient  instrumentality  for 
the  welfare  of  the  American  fighting  forces. 

The  appreciation  and  gratitude  of  the  organization 
are  cheerfully  extended  to  the  War  and  Navy  Depart- 
ments and  their  respective  Secretaries,  to  their  mili- 
tary associates  in  Washington,  to  the  officers  of  the 
Commission  on  Training  Camp  Activities  and  its 
Chairman,  the  Hon.  Raymond  B.  Fosdick,  and  to  the 
officers  in  the  camps,  for  their  sympathy  and  assistance 
so  generously  accorded.  It  is  similarly  a  pleasure  to 
record  the  constant  support  and  friendship  of  the 
American  Red  Cross,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  The 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  the  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association,  the  Salvation  Army, 


REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE        93 

the  War  Camp  Community  Service  and  the  American 
Library  Association.  These  organizations  were  of 
great  assistance  to  the  Board,  particularly  during  the 
early  stages  of  its  work  when  it  lacked  adequate  facili- 
ties in  the  camps.  It  was  a  great  gratification  to 
co-operate  with  these  agencies  in  the  celebration  of 
national  holidays  and  other  memorial  occasions.  The 
Jewish  Welfare  Board  is  glad  to  have  been  able  to 
have  assisted  various  veteran  associations,  the  Boy 
Scouts  of  America,  and  other  national  organizations  in 
placing  their  particular  message  before  the  enlisted 
men. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  repeats  its  appreciation 
expressed  in  the  Annual  Report  submitted  on  Novem- 
ber 24,  1918,  to  all  the  affiliated  national  Jewish  organ- 
I'zations  for  their  assistance.  It  is  a  special  privilege  to 
make  grateful  acknowledgement  of  the  zeal  for  service 
displayed  by  the  chairman,  officers  and  members  of 
the  local  Branches,  who  assumed  leadership  in  the 
conduct  of  community  activities. 

Mention  is  here  made  of  appreciation  for  the  devo- 
tion and  earnestness  of  the  Executive  Staff  and  their 
assistants  at  National  Headquarters,  and  of  the  field 
representatives,  men  and  women,  who  served  so  faith- 
fully here  and  abroad. 

To  those  of  the  public  who  by , contribution  of  funds 
assured  the  adequacy  of  financial  resources,  and  to  all 
w^ho  by  their  moral  support  brought  added  inspiration 
and  stimulus,  the  Board  o'ffers  as  an  all  too  insufficient 
recompense  the  sincere  expression  of  its  heartfelt 
thanks. 


94  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


PROGRAM  OF  FUTURE  WORK  OF  THE  JEWISH 
WELFARE  BOARD 

By  Justice  Irving  Lehman,  Chairman  of  Committee 
on   Post- War   Program 


The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  and  the  Council  of 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  &  Kindred  Associations  were 
both  formed  in  a  spirit  of  devotion  to  country  and  to 
Jewish  ideals  and  traditions.  Both  recognized  as  a 
fundamental  principle  of  their  work  that  through  the 
preservation  of  these  Jewish  ideals  and  traditions,  the 
Jewish  youth  of  America  could  best  be  served  so  that 
he  in  turn  could  best  serve  his  country. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  is  striving  to  promote 
the  social  welfare  of  the  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines 
in  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  espe- 
cially to  provide  for  them  adequate  opportunities  for 
the  observance  of  their  religious  life.  The  Council 
of  Young  Men's  Hebrew  &  Kindred  Associations  has 
been  seeking  to  promote  the  religious,  intellectual  and 
social  well  being  of  Jewish  young  men  and  women.  It 
has  been  assisting  in  the  organization  of  Jewish 
Centres,  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Associations,  Young 
Women's  Hebrew  Associations  and  other  kindred 
associations.  It  has  been  advising  and  encouraging 
such  associations  when  formed,  and  assisting  them  in 
extending  their  activities  and  in  making  them  more 
efficacious. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  has  learned  that  its  work 
among  soldiers  and  sailors  can  be  effectively  carried 
out  only  in  co-operation  with  the  communities,  and 
especially  with  those  social,  recreational  and  religious 
organizations  within  the  communities  created  for  the 
all-around   advancement    of   Jewish   young    men   and 


PROGRAM  OF  FUTURE  WORK  95 

women.  Such  organizations  meet  the  need  for  recrea- 
tion of  the  soldiers  and  sailors  stationed  at  neigh- 
boring military  posts,  and  of  those  who  pass  through 
or  visit  the  community.  The  work  in  the  army  and 
navy  must,  therefore,  necessarily  be  strengthened,  and 
the  opportunities  for  service  to  the  enlisted  men 
increased  as  Jewish  Centers  are  organized  and  devel- 
oped in  the  communities. 

The  Council  of  Young  Men's  Hebrew  &  Kindred 
Associations  has  always  been  eager  to  co-operate  in 
this  work  through  its  constituent  societies.  It  has 
recognized  that  the  responsibility  of  a  community 
extended  not  merely  to  its  own  members,  but  em- 
braced the  obligation  to  serve  the  country  wherever 
possible,  and  in  reference  to  the  men  in  uniform,  the 
possibilities  for  helpful  service  were  clearly  apparent 
and  numerous.  It  therefore  becomes  evident  that 
the  two  organizations,  alike  in  spirit  and  working  in 
close  co-operation,  can  by  a  merger  of  their  activities 
best  fulfill  the  purposes  which  each  has  been  seeking 
to  accomplish. 

The  program  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  to  be 
formed  as  a  result  of  this  merger  must  be  broad 
enough  to  encompass  the  objects  of  both  organiza- 
tions. For  every  soldier  and  sailor  of  the  Jewish 
faith  provision  must  continue  to  be  made  to  meet  his 
spiritual  and  religious  needs.  Wherever  conditions 
permit,  religious  services  should  be  held  regularly. 
The  High  Holy  Days,  Passover  and  the  other  holi- 
days and  festivals,  should  be  celebrated  with  appro- 
priate adherence  to  the  traditional  ritual  and  customs, 
so  that  their  full  significance  will  be  borne  to  the 
enlisted  men.  These  religious  ministrations  must  be 
in  charge  of  representatives  of  the  Board,  either  paid 
workers  or  volunteers;  and  above  all,  in  this  effort  to 
conserve  the  religious  life  of  our  men  in  uniform,  it 
will  be  imperative  to  have  the  fullest  support  and  co- 


96  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

operation  of  the  Rabbis  of  the  country,  who  can  assist 
so  greatly  among  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  are 
stationed  in  their  vicinity.  Thus,  through  these  efforts 
we  shall  give  assurance  to  the  men  of  Jewish  faith 
in  the  army  and  navy  and  to  their  fathers  and  mothers 
that  the  Jews  of  America  are  interested  in  their  wel- 
fare during  the  period  of  their  service  to  their  country. 

Within  the  communities  the  program  of  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  will  include  a  study  of  local  conditions 
relating  to  Jewish  Center  work.  We  shall  then  be  in 
a  position  intelligently  to  determine  the  needs  of  the 
communities  and  how  far  the  existing  facilities  supply 
these  needs.  This  information  will  furnish  a  basis  for 
the  formulation  of  definite  programs  for  local  or- 
ganizations. 

The  National  Organization  should  make  available 
as  speedily  as  possible  specialized  assistance  in  the 
conduct  of  activities  of  institutions  already  in  exist- 
ence. It  should  suggest  and  stimulate  the  inclusion  of 
new  activities  in  the  program.  By  advice  and  direc- 
tion it  should  aid  in  the  extension  of  present  facilities, 
including  the  erection  of  new  buildings.  It  will  be 
called  upon  and  must  be  prepared  to  help  in  conduct- 
ing membership  and  financial  campaigns.  It  must  be 
ready  to  counsel  and  initiate  plans  and  policies  that 
will  enhance  the  service  of  the  local  institutions  to 
the  communities. 

In  order  to  undertake  this  program,  we  must  have 
trained  workers  both  in  our  own  National  Organiza- 
tions and  in  the  local  Centers.  For  that  reason  the  first 
task  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  must  be  the  training 
of  a  group  of  professional  workers  of  the  highest  type. 
Only  as  we  develop  such  workers  can  the  potentiali- 
ties of  this  social  and  civic  enterprise  for  advancing 
the  interests  of  our  people  and  country  be  realized 
most  completely. 

The  foregoing  are  the  principles  underlying  the  plan 


RESOLUTION  AUTHORIZING  AMALGAMATION    97 

for  the  merger  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  and  the 
Council  of  Young  Men's  Hebrew  &  Kindred  Associa- 
tions. Here  also  are  suggested  the  nature  and  scope 
of  work  that  should  engage  the  efforts  of  the  new 
organization. 


RESOLUTION  AUTHORIZING  AMALGAMATION 

WITH  COUNCIL  OF  Y.  M.  H.  AND  K 

ASSOCIATIONS 

Resolved : 

That  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Jewish  Wel- 
fare Board  be  authorized  to  enter  into  an  agreement 
with  the  Council  of  Y.  M.  H.  and  K.  A's.  for  the 
conduct  of  the  work  which  is  now  being  carried  on  by 
the  said  Council;  and  for  that  purpose: 

To  adopt  a  new  constitution,  by-laws,  rules  and 
regulations  for  the  Jewish  W^elfare  Board,  the  govern- 
ment of  its  business;  the  management  of  its  affairs 
and  the  choice,  powers  and  duties  of  its  officers  and 
agents ;  and,  if  they  see  fit,  to  secure  the  incorporation 
of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  under  the  Membership 
Corporation  Law  or  under  any  other  special  or  general 
statute  of  the  State  of  New  York ;  and 

In  conjunction  with  such  other  persons  as  may  be 
associated  with  them  under  the  provisions  of  the  con- 
stitution and  by-laws  made  and  adopted  in  accordance 
with  this  resolution,  to  do  and  perform  all  things  in 
the  government  and  management  of  the  business  and 
affairs  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  which  may  be  in- 
trusted to  them  under  the  provisions  of  the  said  con- 
stitution  and   bv-laws. 


98 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESS  ON 
HARRY  CUTLER 

By  Louis  Marshall,  Esq. 

We  have  met  on  this  momentous  day  in  the  life  of 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  with  hearts  attuned  to  grief. 
Our  beloved  leader,  Harry  Cutler,  who  with  a  singular 
devotion  dedicated  himself  to  the  cause  for  the  fur- 
therance of  which  this  organization  was  formed,  is 
not  here  to  greet  us  with  his  cheerful  smile  and  his 
commanding  presence.  "The  silver  cord  is  snapped 
asunder,  the  golden  bowl  is  shattered  and  the  pitcher  is 
broken  at  the  fountain/'  It  is  fitting,  therefore,  that 
we  pause  before  turning  to  our  regular  proceedings  to 
commemorate  the  friend  whom  we  esteemed  and 
honored  and  loved  for  the  manhood  that  was  in  him, 
for  the  virtues  that  he  exemplified,  for  his  achieve- 
ments for  the  betterment  of  humanity,  for  his  loyalty 
to  his  faith  and  the  unselfish  spirit  that  compelled  him 
to  serve  his  brethren  and  his  country,  even  to  the 
extent  of  dying  for  them  before  he  had  reached  the 
meridian  of  his  years  and  the  zenith  of  his  powers. 

His  was  a  remarkable  career  overflowing  with  inspi- 
ration, miraculous  as  a  commentary  upon  the  innate 
qualities  of  the  man  and  of  the  wonders  that  may  be 
wrought  in  those  whose  souls  are  responsive  to  the 
genius  of  America.  Driven  from  inhospitable  Russia  in 
tender  childhood,  a  refugee  from  the  brutality  stimu- 
lated by  autocracy,  in  poverty,  but  not  helpless  or  ab- 
ject he  came  to  these  shores  a  boy  of  eight  with  stout 
heart  and  will  unconquerable.  W^ithout  friends,  with- 
out influence,  without  the  opportunity  of  education, 
asking  naught  of  charity,  he  eliminated  childhood  from 


HARRY  CUTLER 

Ckairman  of  Executive  Committee  of  Jewish  W^elfare  Board  from  July.   1917. 
until  his  death,  August  28.  1920 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESS  ON  HARRY  CUTLER        101 

his  calendar  and  struggled  with  his  revered  mother  to 
maintain  the  family. 

No  service  was  so  menial,  but  that  he  was  prepared 
to  render  it,  so  long  as  it  was  honorable.  His  daily 
tasks  as  a  newsboy,  a  bootblack,  a  worker  in  a  cannery, 
a  mill-hand,  heroically  performed,  qualified  him  for  the 
Distinguished  Service  Medal  later  bestowed  by  his 
grateful  country  and  the  Medal  of  Honor  that  came 
to  him  from  beyond  the  seas  that  he  had  first  crossed 
in  the  steerage. 

He  was  ambitious  and  diligent  in  his  business. 
Deprived  of  the  advantages  of  scholastic  training,  he 
taught  himself  with  such  thoroughness  that  one  mar- 
velled at  his  mastery  of  the  English  language  and  his 
complete  absorption  of  the  finest  elements  of  New 
England  idealism.  He  prospered  as  a  manufacturer, 
in  spite  of  the  keenest  competition,  and  the  men  of  his 
craft  soon  learned  to  value  his  ability  by  placing  him 
at  the  head  of  their  organizations,  so  that  he  might  be 
their  spokesman  whenever  it  became  necessary  to  de- 
fend their  rights  and  to  promote  their  welfare. 

Wealth,  however,  did  not  lure  him  or  narrow  his 
outlook  or  blunt  his  sense  of  brotherhood.  Though 
within  his  reach  had  he  been  willing  to  pursue  it, 
scarce  beyond  the  dawn  of  manhood,  he  deliberately 
chose  to  answer  the  call  that  came  to  him  from  his 
country,  his  people  and  oppressed  and  suffering  hu- 
manity. He  was  chosen  to  sit  in  the  Legislature  of 
Rhode  Island,  where  he  fought  the  battle  of  social 
justice  against  the  opposition  of  the  most  powerful. 
He  closed  his  ears  to  the  siren  song  of  temptation,  to 
all  promise  of  high  office,  but  true  to  himself  and  his 
trust,  nothing  could  swerve  him  from  the  rugged  path 
that  he  had  chosen. 

This  product  of  a  Russian  ghetto,  an  outcast  from 
the  land  of  his  birth,  became  so  impressed  by  the  sense 
of  obligation  he  owed  to  the  land  that  had  welcomed 


102  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

him,  that  he  enlisted  in  the  State  Militia  and  by  sheer 
merit,  became  the  Colonel  of  his  regiment.  No  occa- 
sion involving  the  welfare  of  the  state  and  city  of  his 
adoption  passed  that  did  not  find  him  in  the  front  rank 
of  the  workers  and  among  the  selected  leaders.  He 
enjoyed  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  of  his  towns- 
men, neighbors  and  associates,  Jews  and  non-Jews 
alike,  than  which  higher  or  worthier  tribute  is  incon- 
ceivable. 

As  a  Jew  he  felt  in  his  heart  and  soul  the  throb  of 
pride  for  all  that  his  people  had  contributed  to  civiliza- 
tion and  morality,  to  ethics  and  religion,  and  to  the 
noblest  conception  of  human  brotherhood.  His  soul 
was  agonized  by  the  misery,  the  persecution,  the  op- 
pression which  those  of  his  faith  had  suffered  and  were 
suffering  at  the  hands  of  their  brutish  and  barbarous 
foes.  Where  others  were  moved  by  what  they  heard 
and  read,  he  knew  what  it  all  meant  because  the  iron 
of  unreasoning  hatred  had  pierced  his  very  vitals  and 
he  hoped  and  prayed  for  the  time  to  come  when  he 
might  help  in  the  emancipation  of  those  who  walked 
in  the  gloom  and  darkness  of  the  prison  house  of 
Eastern  Europe.    That  time  came. 

As  a  member  of  the  American  Jewish  Committee, 
he  co-operated  in  bringing  to  success  the  movement 
for  the  abrogation  of  the  Russian  treaty.  It  was  a 
sacred  moment  when  he  lifted  his  voice  in  the  halls  of 
Congress  in  protest  against  the  insult  that  Czarism 
had  inflicted  upon  American  citizenship.  It  was  given 
to  him  to  labor  in  Paris  on  behalf  of  the  Minority 
treaties  which  are  to  guarantee  full  civic,  religious 
and  political  rights  to  the  racial,  linguistic  and  religious 
minorities  in  Eastern  and  Central  Europe.  He  joined 
in  every  effort  to  keep  open  for  immigration  the  doors 
of  opportunity  through  which  he  had  been  permitted 
to  enter. 

He  was  loval  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  active  in 


S 


1 


..Mi 


■4' 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESS  ON  HARRY  CUTLER     105 

the  Synagogue,  the  Religious  School,  and  in  the  wider 
movements  that  tended  to  perpetuate  Judaism  and  to 
inculcate  its  precepts.  It  was,  therefore,  inevitable  that 
when  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  it  was  found  necessary 
for  the  Jews  of  America  to  establish  an  organization  to 
minister  to  the  needs  of  our  boys  in  the  Army  and 
Navy,  all  eyes  turned  to  him  for  leadership  and  with 
unanimity  that  was  significant,  he  was  chosen  for  the 
onerous  and  exacting  post  of  Chairman  of  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board,  which,  by  his  labors,  was  evolved  into 
the  powerful  instrumentality  that  it  became.  To  its 
objects  he  applied  himself  under  the  most  forbidding 
conditions,  regardless  of  his  personal ,  business,  his 
peace  of  mind  and  his  health  until  he  was  stricken  at 
the  helm  at  the  very  moment  when  glorious  fruition 
had  crowned  his  devoted  efforts. 

Nothing  that  he  did  was  perfunctory.  He  gave  un- 
remitting attention  to  the  slightest  details.  Nothing 
was  so  unimportant  as  to  escape  his  notice.  He 
traveled  at  night,  so  that  he  might  be  at  his  desk  dur- 
ing the  day.  On  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  he  was 
equally  energetic  and  efficient.  His  task  was  never  for 
a  moment  out  of  his  thoughts.  He  was  tactful,  diplo- 
matic and  at  the  same  time  forceful.  His  interest  in 
the  well-being  of  the  boys  in  the  camps  and  at  the 
front  was  that  of  an  elder  brother.  It  was  genuine 
and  spontaneous,  free  from  all  pretense.  He  succeeded 
in  building  up  what  in  the  end  became  an  excellent 
working  staff,  and  of  establishing  among  his  co- 
workers an  esprit  de  corps  that  earned  the  most  sincere 
of  praise,  the  appreciation  of  those  whom  they  were 
called  upon  to  serve. 

Colonel  Cutler  never  for  an  instant,  even  under  the 
most  trying  circumstances,  lost  his  zeal  and  enthusi- 
asm, nor  did  he  ever  relax  in  the  ardor  of  his  desire 
to  embody  in  his  organization  that  Jewishness  which 
gave  it  distinction  and  without  which  it  would  have 


106  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

been  devoid  of  all  character.  It  may  be  said  in  all 
sincerity  that  a  complete  history  of  the  war  could  not 
be  written  without  giving  due  credit  to  the  several 
welfare  agencies  that  co-operated  with  the  Govern- 
ment, and  that  a  history  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board 
would  be  imperfect  if  there  were  lacking  upon  its 
every  page,  the  impress  of  that  lovable  and  noble 
personality,  that  fine,  red-blooded  exponent  of  Judaism 
and  Americanism  whom  we  shall  never  cease  to  hold 
in  honor  and  affection — Harry  Cutler. 


107 


JACOB  H.  SCHIFF 
IN  MEMORIAM 

Jacob  H.  Schiff  lived  a  life,  rich  in  enduring  useful- 
ness and  service  to  Israel,  America  and  humanity 
everywhere. 

To  the  needy  and  unfortunate  among  his  people  the 
world  over,  he  brought  succor  and  hope  through  his 
sympathy  and  aid,  and  with  loving  passion  he  be- 
friended every  endeavor  to  advance  the  weal  of  Israel 
and  make  of  it  a  stronger  and  a  nobler  people. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  at  its  founding  and  ever 
thereafter,  was  honored,  inspired  and  strengthened  by 
the  interest  and  support  of  Mr.  Schiff,  who,  in  his 
solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  America's  soldiers  and 
sailors,  contributed  early  and  generously  to  the  re- 
sources of  the  Board,  and  often  brought  to  its  councils 
the  encouragement  of  his  presence  and  the  guidance  of 
his  wisdom. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  expresses  its  profound 
sorrow  at  the  loss  which  it,  in  common  with  Jewry  and 
the  rest  of  Mankind,  has  sustained,  and  expresses  its 
deepest  and  most  heartfelt  sympathy  to  his  family. 


108  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 
June  7th,   1917,  to  September  30th,   1920 


Receipts : 

United  War  Work  Campaign $3,666,182.00 

New  York  City  Campaign,  1917 898,543.04 

Other  Campaigns,   1917-1918 720,961.37 

Miscellaneous  Donations   555,457.19 

Interest  on  Investments 136,831.37 

Interest  on  Bank  Balances 16,851.33 

Salvage  143,486.99 

Total  Rceipts   $6,138,313.29 

Disbursements : 

United  States  (Exhibit  A) $3,497,242.98 

Overseas  (Exhibit  B) 659,079.51 

Total    Disbursements $4,156,322.49 

Appropriated  Balance $1,981,990.80 


Current  Assets : 

Cash  in  Banks $77,173.77 

Notes  Receivable 20,000.00 

U.  S.  Certificates  of  Indebtedness 1,689,150.03 

U.  S.  Liberty  Bonds  and  War  Savings 

Stamps  at  Par 195,667.00 

Total    $1 ,981,990.80 


FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  109 

EXHIBIT  A 
UNITED  STATES  DISBURSEMENTS 

Construction  and  Equipment  of  Buildings: 

Construction $556,720.84 

Equipment    74,588.69 

$631,309.53 

Operating  Expenses  for  Welfare  Work  at 
Army  and  Navy  Camps,  Posts,  Sta- 
tions and  Hospitals,  Embarkation  and 
Debarkation  Ports  and  on  Transports 
and  Warships : 

Operation  and  Maintenance  of  Service 

Buildings $168,049.30 

Salaries  and  Expenses  of  Field  Repre- 
sentatives          744,810.25 

Uniforms    and     Equipment    of     Field 

Representatives    53,161.26 

Free  Distribution  of  Supplies,  Including 
Tobacco,  Handkerchiefs,  Refresh- 
ments, Candy,  Sanitary  Supplies, 
Writing  Paper,  Envelopes,  Etc 180,347.60 

Entertainment  and  Recreation,  Includ- 
ing Concerts,  Vaudeville,  Motion 
Pictures,  Athletic  Supplies,  Etc....      157,711.62 

Religious  Services  and  Supplies,  Includ- 
ing Matzoth,  Bibles  and  Prayer 
Books 102,720.86 

Employment  and  Vocational  Guidance.        44,293.43 

Educational  Activities,  Including  Lec- 
tures, Classes,  Literature,  Etc 29,456.35 

Automobile  Cost,  Maintenance,  Equip- 
ment and  Supplies 118,671.75 

$1,599,222.42 

Subventions  to  165  Jewish  Welfare  Board 
Community  Branches  Providing  Soldier 
and  Sailor  Centers,  Canteen  Service,  En- 
tertainment, Etc 605,497.28 


no  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

EXHIBIT  A   (Continued) 

UNITED  STATES  DISBURSEMENTS 

Pro  Rata  Allotments  to  Army  and  Navy 
Departments  for  Welfare  Work 177,570.00 

Campaign  and  Publicity  Expenses,  Includ- 
ing Contribution  to  United  War  Work 
Campaign  Expenses 56,560.08 

Compilation  of  Statistics  of  Participation  of 
Jews  in  the  War  (Bureau  of  War  Records)    99,633.09 

Headquarters  Expenses: 

Salaries  191,786.53 

Furniture,  Fixtures  and  Equipment 34,811.57 

Rent,  Light  and  Heat 20,663.77 

Telephone  and  Telegraph 20,60523 

Postage   12,999.85 

Stationery  and   Printing 21,628.63 

Miscellaneous    24,955.00 

327,450.58 

TOTAL  DISBURSEMENTS- 
UNITED  STATES $3,497,242.98 


FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  111 

EXHIBIT  B 

OVERSEAS  DISBURSEMENTS 

Operating  Expenses  for  Welfare  Work  at 
Camps,  Hospitals,  Debarkation  Ports 
and  Centers  (Including  Canteens)  : 

Operation  and  Maintenance  of  Centers, 
Including  Canteens  and  Service 
Club    16,598,75 

Salaries  and  Expenses  of  Field  Repre- 
sentatives       235,528.64 

Uniforms    and     Equipment    of     Field 

Representatives    37,881. 11 

Free  Distribution  of  Supplies,  Includ- 
ing Tobacco,  Handkerchiefs,  Re- 
freshments, Candy,  Sanitary  Sup- 
plies, Writing  Paper,  Envelopes, 
Etc. 27,844.52 

Entertainment  and  Recreation,  Includ- 
ing Concerts,  Vaudeville,  Motion 
Pictures,  Athletic  Supplies,  Etc...       20,542.49 

Religious  Services  and  Supplies,  Includ- 
ing Matzohs,  Bibles  and  Prayer 
Books  218,429.31 

Automobile  Cost,  Maintenance,  Equip- 
ment and  Supplies 56,348.59 

$613,173.41 

Headquarters  Expenses  for  Office  Rent, 
Stationery  and  Printing,  Supplies,  Tele- 
phone, Telegraph  and  Cable,  Postage, 
Freight,  Publicity,  Etc 37,636.00 

Loss  on  Foreign  Exchange 8,270.10 


TOTAL  DISBURSEMENTS- 
OVERSEAS $659.079.5 1 


112  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


NECROLOGY 

HARRY  CUTLER 

Chairman,  Executive  Committee 
Died  August  27,  1920. 


ALBERT  S.  WEISBERGER 

Overseas  Service — Paris  Headquarters. 
Died  April  15,  1919. 


JULLAN  H.  COHEN 

Domestic  Service — Camp  Fremont 
Died  November  1,  1918. 


SAMUEL  GITLIN 

Domestic  Service — Camp  Merritt 
Died  January  2,  1919. 


MAURICE  L.  STERN 

Domestic  Service — Camp  Hancock 
Died  February  26,  1919. 


113 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE  AND  OFFICERS 

*Harry  Cutler,  Chairman 
(From  July  16,  1917,  to  August  28,  1920) 

Cyrus  Adler,  Acting  Chairman 

Joseph  Rosenzweig,  Secretary 
Walter  E.  Sachs,  Treasurer 
Henry  J.  Bernheim 
Boris  D.  Bogen 
Carl  Dreyfus 
Abram  I.  Elkus 
William  Fischman 
I.  Edwin  Goldwasser 
Maurice  H.  Harris 
Charles  Hartman 
Louis  E.  Kirstein 
Irving  Lehman 
M.  S.  Margolies 
Louis  Marshall 
fD.  De  Sola  Pool 
William  Rosenau 
Morris  Rothenberg 
Mortimer  L.  Schiff 
Bernard  Semel 
Israel  Unterberg 
Morris  Wolf 

ADMINISTRATION  OFFICERS 

Harry  L.  Glucksman,  Executive  Director 
Ellis  Slatoff,  Comptroller 


♦Deceased. 

f  Resigned  October  24,  1920. 


114 


JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


COMMITTEES 


Advisory 


Jacob  Billikopf 
Henry  Cohen 
Joseph  H.  Cohen 
Julius  Eiseman 
Sidney  Hillman 
Jacob  Kohn 
Nathan  Krass 
Sam  A.  Lewisohn 
Henry  Morgenthau 
David  Phillipson 


Max  Pine 

Joseph  M.  Proskauer 
JuHus  Rosenwald 
Jacob  H.  Schiff 
Benj.  Schlesenger 
Isaac  Siegel 
Maurice  Stern 
Oscar  S.  Straus 
Mayer  Sulzberger 
Felix  M.  Warburg 


Buildings  and  Salvage 

Israel  Unterberg,  Chairman  I.  E.  Goldwasser 

Carl  Dreyfus  Louis  E.  Kirstein 

Morris  Rothenberg 

Chaplains  and  Religious  Activities 


Cyrus  Adler,  Chairman 
Bernard  Drachman 
Louis  Grossman 
Maurice  H.  Harris 


Irving  Lehman 
M.  S.  Margolies 
David  de  Sola  Pool 
William  Rosenau 


Elias  L.  Solomon 


Finance 


Mortimer  L.  Schifif,  Chairman       Louis  Grumbach 
Henry  Bronner  E.  M.  Steinam 

Walter  E.  Sachs 


General  Activities 


Cyrus  Adler,  Chairman 
Henry  J.  Bernheim 
Louis  Marshall 


Bernard  Semel 
Mortimer  L.  Schiff 
Israel  Unterberg 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE  AND  OFFICERS        115 


Home  Service  Personnel 

Bernard  Semel,  Chairman  Leon  W.  Goldrich 

Boris  D.  Bogen  I.  E.  Goldwasser 

Joseph  Rosenzweig 

Overseas 

Henry  J.  Bernheim,  Chairman        Irving  Lehman 
Abram  L  Elkus  David  de  Sola  Pool 

Charles  Hartman  A.  A.  Silberberg 

Administrative 

Harry  Cutler,  Chairman  Joseph  Rosenzweig 

Cyrus  Adler  Walter  E.  Sachs 

Henry  J.  Bernheim  Mortimer  L.  Schiff 

Irving  Lehman  Chester  J.  Teller 

Israel  Unterberg 


116  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 

OFFICE  AND  FIELD  PERSONNEL 


Administration 

Chester  Jacob  Teller,  Executive  Director 

(From  November  1917  to  June  1919) 

Harry  L.  Gluckman,  Executive  Director 

(Since  July  1919;  Assistant  Executive  Director   from  December 

1917  to  June  1919) 

Ellis  Slatoff,  Comptroller 

(Since  May  1918) 

Field  Secretaries 

Leon  W.  Goldrich 

Ludw^ig  B.  Bernstein 

Horace  J.  Wolf 
David  De  Sola  Pool 

Field  Supervisors 

Joseph  B.  Abrahams 

Leon  A.  Baer 

Aaron  Horv^itz 

Joseph  C.  Hyman 

Philip  Russ 
Herman  L.  Slobin 
Jacob  L.  Wiseman 

National  Office  Staff 

Chester  G.  Bandman  Louis  Kraft 

Barnett  R.  Brickner  Samuel  Margoshes 

Constance  P.  Brow^n  Max  Oppenheimei 

Max  H.  Cohen  Osias  Ostreicher 

William  H.  Erler  Louis  Popkin 

Abraham  Feitelberg  Aaron  G.  Raskin 

Irving  Goldfarb  Frank  J.  Rubenstein 

Louis  Goldfarb  Anna  E.  Sherline 

Samuel  S.  Grossman  Joseph  H.  Solomon 

Samuel  Hertz  Joseph  B.  Tarr 

Henry  Horov^itz  Harry  Warshaw 


Harold  B.  Weissnii 


an 


117 


Field   Representatives — Overseas   Service 


Etta  Aaronson 

Solomon  Abelow 

H.  H.  Ackerman 

Wolf  Adler 

Rebecca  Affachiner 

Rose  Alexander 

Myron  Antel 

Murray  April 

Joseph  M.  Arkush 

Samuel  Baker 

Rabbi  Nathan  Barash 
*Simon  Barchak 
fRay  Barnett 

David  Becker 

Helen  B.  Behal 

Marion  B.  Benson 

Sophia  Berman 

Zena  Blanc 

Samuel  J.  Blaut 

David  S.  Blondheim 

Jack  Bloom 

Lena  Blumenthal 

Sadie  Berg 
♦Abraham  Burstein 

Catherin  Cauman 

Adreienne  Cerf 

Irving  Chayken 

Eva  F.  Cohen 

Louis  J.  Cohen 
*Leo  Cooper 

Frank  A.  Cowen 
*Benjamin  Daniels 
♦Edgar  Drachman 

Louis  Drucker 

Maud  Drucker 
fEva  G.  Dushkin 

Ada  Edelman 

Dorothy  Edison 

Jennie  Eisenberg 

H,  G.  Enelow 

Emanuel  Epstein 

Mattie  Feinberg 

Ida  Feldman 
♦Max  Felshin 


Ella  Fleishman 
Bessie  Fox 
Rebecca  Fox 
Henri  Frank 
Irving  H.  Frank 
Harry  Frankel 
Rita  Freeman 
Abraham  Friptu 
Jeanette  Frisch 
Margaret  Fromm 
Newton  Gardiner 
Celia  Gassen 
Simon  Gazan 
Benjamin  Giffin 
Saul  Gilbert 
Beatrice  Goldber 
Eleanor  Goldberg 
Isabel  Goldberg 

♦Simon  Goldberg 
Joseph  A.  Golde    • 

♦John  Goldhaar 

♦Paul  Goldman 
Ralph  Goldman 

♦Jacob  Goldstein 
Lillian  Goodman 
Ida  Gordon 
Rose  Gordon 
Saul  Gorson 
Lillian  E.  Gottlieb 
Zelda  Greenberg 
Esther  C.  Haber 
Solomon  Heimann 
Gertrude  Heyman 
Rita  Hocheimer 
Edward  Israel 
Emanuel  Jack 
Morris  L.  Jacobs 
Lillian  L.  Jacoby 
Rebecca  Joffe 
Sarah  Kamrass 
Ruth  Kann 
Samuel  Kaplan 
Reuben  Kaufman 
Esther  B.  Klein 


♦Also  field  representative  Domestic  Serv'ice. 
tAlso  member  National  Office  Staff. 


118 


JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


Ray  Klein 

Abraham  Klubock 

Morris  Kramer 

Louis  L.  Krauss 

Sara  Landman 

Esther  Levy 

Lester  Levin 

Felix  Levy 

Regina  Levy 

Howard  Lichtenstein 

I^nora  Liman 

Ethel  Lipman 

Ada  Loewy 

Louis  Luxembourg 

Rose  Lutsky 
♦Meyer  Magui 

David  Manning 

Louis  Marckwald 

Eugenie  Marx 

Essie  Michael 
♦Lawrence  J.  Michaels 

Leo  Mielziner 

Rose  Minzesheimer 
♦Clifton  L.  Moise 

Henrietta  Moscowitz 

Marcella  Moscowitz 

Fannie  Newman 

Edith  Odes 

Joseph  Pedott 

Cyrilla  Perlman 

Ray  Perlman 

Minnie  Rabinowitz 

Reuben  Rabinowitz 

Lawrence  Rich 
♦Solon  J.  Rieser 

Isabel  Rinaldo 

Charles  Rivitz 

George  Rooby 

Albert  Rosenberg 

Harry  Rosenberg 

Julia  Rosenberg 


Ruth  Rosenberg 

Edward  Rosenblum 

Esther  Rosenfield 
♦Abraham  Rosenstein 
♦David  Rosenthal 

Leonard  J.  Rothstein 

Anna  Rubenstein 

Henry  J.  Sachs 

David  Satz 
♦Samuel  Schaeflfer 

Rena  Schloss 

William  A.  Schwab 

Sophie  Serber 

Hannah  Shulman 

Bessie  Spanner 

Elizabeth  Steinbrook 

Marjorie  Steindler 

Nathan  Stember 

Abe  ShefFerman 
♦Harry  Shapiro 

Leonard  Louis  Shapiro 
♦Edward  Shulman 
♦William  S.  Sindey 

Matilda  Solomon 
♦Leo  Sorrin 
♦Leo  Stirn 

Miriam  Teichner 

Louis  Truehaft 

Eva  Volport 

Elkan  C.  Voorsanger 

Abraham  Weil 

A.  S.  Weisberger 

A.  L.  Weinstock 

Rose  Weisman 

Jerome  Wertheimer 

Rose  Williams 

Adele  Winston 

Aaron  Wirpel 

Rose  Wolf  son 

Evelyn  Mae  Younger 

William  Zuckerman 


♦Also  field  representative  Domestic  Service. 
fAlso  member  National  Office  Staff. 


119 


Field  Representatives — Domestic  Service 


Abraham  Aaron 
David  Aaronson 
Isadore  Abelson 
William  Ackermaii 
Isaac  Adler 
A.  S.  Albrecht 
Herman  Alof  sin 
William  Alter 
Ernest  J.  Altman 
Benj.  S.  Applestein 
H.  L.  Arenson 
Frank  Astor 
H.  H.  Auerbach 
Joseph  Balaban 
Robert  Bandes 
A.  A.  Bamett 
Isadore  Bar  sky 
Alvin  D.  Baumgarten 
Levi  Becker 
Irving  Beckhardt 
Samuel  Belinkoff 
Abraham  Beresof  sky 
H.  J.  Berkowitz 
Joseph  Berkowitz 
Alexander  Berlin 
Jacob  Berlin 
Jerome  M.  Bernstein 
Leo  B.  Bernstein 
David  Blank 
Joseph  Blatt 
Nathan  Blechman 
Joshua  Bloch 
David  Mitchell  Blum 
Henry  Blum 
Chas.  Blumenthal 
Samuel  C.  Blumenthal 
Samuel  J.  Bosniak 
David  S.  Bond 
Philip  Braunstein 
Meyer  Braverman 
Nathan  Brenner 
Edward  Brodstein 
Abraham  Bronstein 


M.  M.  Brooks 
Sol.  Buchwald 
David  S.  Cahan 
Morris  Cahan 
S.  S.  Cahan 
Simon  A.  Cohen 
Walter  Caminer 
A.  Caplan 
Leon  Chassey 
Samuel  Chassey 
Morris  Clark 
E.  A.  R.  Cohen 
G.  G.  Cohen 
Joseph  Cohen 
Julian  H.  Cohen 
Louis  Cohen 
Max  Cohen 
Max  H.  Cohen 
Max  I.  Cohen 
Milton  E.  Cohen 
Isadore  Cohen 
Robert  Mvron  Cohen 
A.  D.  G.  Cohn 
Theodore  J.  Comparte 
Camuel  Cornick 
Leonard  Cowen 

0,  R.  Cummins 

1.  Davidoff 
Morris  M.  Davidow 
Harry  E.  Davis 
Arthur  K.  Deutsch 
Louis  Diamond 

E.  Z.  Dimitman 

A.  E.  Dobrin 
Isadore  Dominitz 
Frank  S.  Dreeban 
Samuel  Dreyfoos 
Moses  J.  Eckstein 

B.  C.  Ehrenreich 
Benj.  Eisenstein 
Chas.  H.  Eliscu 
Alexander  Elishewitz 
Nathan  Elkin 


120 


JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


M.  J.  Escoll 
Harry  Ettleson 
Meyer  Caspar  Falkoff 
Jacob  Faller 
Isaac  Feinstein 
David  L.  Feldman 
Harry  Feldman 
David  Fichman 
Abraham  A,  Finkelstein 
S.  S.  Finkelstein 
Israel  Flapin 
Max  Flax 
Solomon  Foster 
Emanuel  E.  Fox 
Leo  J.  Frachtenberg 
S.  J.  Frank 
Solomon  Fredman 
Morris  A.  Freed 
Frank  E.  Freedman 
Monroe  M.  Freedman 
A.  N.  Freiberg 
Joseph  R.  Freifeld 
Chas.  Fried 
Chas.  X.  Fried 
Michael  Fried 
Marcus  Friedlander 
Moses  Friedlander 
Alfred  Friedlich 
Nathan  Friedman 
Max  M.  Friedman 
Samuel  C.  Friedman 
S.  H,  Friedman 
Richard  A.  Friedson 
Ephraim  Frisch 
Max  M.  Fritz 
Chas.  Freund 
J.  L.  Gabel 
David  Gittleson 
Dr.  Samuel  Gerson 
M.  H.  Gelfand 
Samuel  Ghinsburg 
Mathew  I.  Ginsburg 
Nathaniel  Ginsberg 
H.  Hart  Gilfix 
Samuel  Gitlin 
Henry  Gittler 
Julius  B.  Gluck 
Herman  O.  Goffin 
A.  P.  Goldberg 


Louis  J.  Goldberg 
M.  M.  Goldberg 
Henry  M.  Goldman 
Herbert  C.  Goldman 
Julius  Goldman 
Max  L.  Goldman 
Harry  T,  Goldsmith 
Samuel  T,  Goldsmith 
David  J.  Goldstein 
Isador  Goldstein 
Jacob  Goldstein 
Max  A.  Goldstein 
Jacob  S.  Golub 
Edward  Goodman 
Meyer  Gordon 
Abraham  A.  Goretsky 
H.  C.  Gorin 
Jaques  Gottlieb 
J.  L.  Gould 
Louis  Greenbaum 
Max  Greenberg 
Harry  Greene 
Louis  D.  Greenzweig 
Benj.  S.  Gross 
Alexander  Grossman 
Arthur  S.  Grossman 
Lazar  Grossman 
Louis  J.  Grossman 
Fred.  L.  Guggenheimer 
Felix  Haas 
L.J.Hass 
Sigmund  Haiman 
D.  F.  Harris 
Gilbert  Harris 
Samuel  Harris 
Joseph  Hassner 
D.  S.  Hausman 
Bernard  Heller 
Nathan  Herzog 
Robert  A.  Hess 
Nathaniel  Hirsch 
Henry  Hirschson 
Julius  Hochfelder 
Chas.  Hoffman 
William  Hoffman 
A.  Holtzberg 
Chas.  Horn 
Walter  Hyams 
Moses  Hyamson 


FIELD  REPRESENTATIVES— DOMESTIC  SERVICE  121 


Henry  Hyman 
Max  C.  Isaac 
Isadore  Isaacson 
Charles  Israel 
Louis  Israel 
Louis  Isbitz 
L,  H.  Jackson 
Isadore  Jacobson 
Cyrus  J.  Janover 
Isidor  Krillow 
Burnett  S.  Jordan 
Theodore  F.  Joseph 
Adolph  Jungman 
A.  E.  Kallman 
Israel  Kaminsky 
Maurice  J.  Karpf 
A.  M.  Kaplan 
Jacob  Kaplowitt 
L.  I.  Kaplan 
J.  H.  Kaplan 
Jacob  Kartman 
Emil  Katzka 
Benj.  Kaufman 
Nathan  Kaufman 
Samuel  B.  Kaufman 
Henry  Kay 
Mandie  Kay 
Samuel  Keiser 
W.  S.  Kellner 
Samuel  J.  Kessler 
J.  Kirshenbaum 
Emil  Klein 
A.  S.  Kleinfeld 
H.  S.  Kline 
Arthur  S.  Kling 
Boris  Komar 
Mordecai  Konowitz 
Louis  J.  Kopald 
Hyman  S.  Kraft 
William  Kraft 
S.  L.  Kregarmer 
Saul  Krohnengold 
Leon  Kupperman 
Samuel  Kurcias 
Albert  B.  Kurtz 
Harry  Kurzman 
J.  Landau 


Sol  Landman 
Phil.  A.  Langh 
Solomon  Lasky 
Morris  Lavetts 
Lawrence  Lavine 
B.  G.  Lazareff 
Morris  Lazaron 
Harry  Lebowsky 
Max  Leichtman 
Joseph  Leiser 
Fred  P.  Leve 
Bernard  I.  Levine 
Davis  Levine 
Harry  Levine 
Morris  Levine 
Lee  J.  Levinger 
M.  M.  Levinson 
A.  A.  Levinthal 
Harry  Levor 
Hyman  Lew^in-Epstein 
Maxwell  Lewis 
Morris  Lewy 
Philip  Lewy 
D.  H.  Light 
Alvin  Linker 
Benj ,  Lorber 
George  Lowenstein 
George  Lubinsky 
Alvin  Luchs 
*Harry  Mackler 
Philip  Madden 
Edgar  Magnin 
Samuel  MakoflF 
Hyman  Malachoff 
Chas.  Mantinband 
Israel  W.  Marcus 
James  Marcus 
Chas.  Margold 
H.  S.  Margolies 
H.  Z.  Markowitz 
L.  H.  Markson 
Melville  Marx 
David  C.  Matt 
Joseph  Mellen 
Benj.  Meltzer 
Henry  Mendel s 
I.  H.  Mendelsohn 


♦Also  member  of  Central  Office  Staff. 


122 


JEWISH  M^  ELF  A  RE  BOARD 


S.  Felix  Mendelsohn 
B.  Menkes 
Max  J.  Merritt 
J,  Merfield 
William  Messer 
Frank  Michael 
Harry  Michaelson 
Julian  H.  Miller 
Samuel  Mirkin 
William  Mithell 
Bernard  Modell 
Henry  Morris 
A.  G.  Moses 
Jacob  L.  Mueller 
Max  Munves 
Lewis  M.  Neikrug 
Morris  Newfield 
H,  H.  Nussbaum 
Herman  Okun 
I.  L.  Orleans 
Chas.  L.  Ornstein 
F.  J.  Ostrow 
M.  P.  Ostrow 
Hyman  Padway 
Lesser  Paley 
Alvin  A.  Paul 
M.  H.  Pehr 
Emil  J.  Perlberg 
Louis  Phillips 
L  E.  Philo 
Bernard  Pines 
George  H.  Pins 
Samuel  Pitchel 
Robert  S.  Pollack 
Benj.  Posner 
Samuel  Pressman 
I.  S.  Privul 
♦George  W.  Rabinoff 
Benj.  Rabinowitz 
Isadore  Rabinowitz 
N.  Rabinowitz 
J.  Raisin 
Julius  Raphael 
Saul  Raskin 
Irving  Ravett 
Louis  Raymon 
Irving  Reichert 


Isadore  Reichert 
Philip  Reichert 
Victor  E.  Reichert 
A.  A.  Reichman 
Malvin  Reinheimer 
A.  B.  Rhine 

Abraham  N.  Richardson 
Hernani  Rieser 
Joseph  Riseman 
Leo  Rosen 
Sam  Rosen 
H.  J.  Rosenbaum 

A.  L.  Rosenberg 
H.  I.  Rosenberg 
H.  G.  Rosenblum 
Arthur  Rosen f eld 
Walter  J.  Rosenfield 
Joseph  S.  Rosenthal 

B.  W.  Roth 
Samuel  Roth 
Joseph  Rothstein 
Harry  Rotkowitz 
George  Rubenstein 
Leonard  Rubenstein 
Louis  H.  Rusga 

A.  S.  Sacks 
Harry  Sackler 
Harry  Sandow 
Elconon  Saul  son 
Aaron  Schacne 
Gilbert  F.  Schamberg 
Philip  Schiller 
Herbert  B.  Schoenblum 
Morris  Schreiber 
Max  Schreibstein 
Bernard  Schubert 
Abraham  M,  Schultz 
Salvadore  J.  Schwab 
S.  L.  Schwade 
Emanuel  Schwartz 
Wm.  B.  Schwartz 
William  Schwartzman 
David  Scott 
Alfred  Seelenfreund 
Louis  M.  Seelenfreund 
Max  L.  Seidenman 
Alvin  W.  Seligman 


♦Also  member  of  Central  Office  Staff. 


FIELD  REPRESENTATIVES— DOMESTIC  SERVICE  123 


Louis  A.  Shapiro 

Adolph  Shirpser 

Joseph  I.  Shor 

A.  H.  Shluger 
''Abraham  Shoul 

William  Siegel 

Isadore  Siegeltuch 

Maxwell  Silver 

Jacob  Silverman 

Nathan  Silverstein 

Bertram  H.  Simon 

Harry  Simon 

Jesse  A.  Simonson 

Arthur  Simpkins 

Joseph  Singer 

Jacob  Skirball 

David  L,  Slater 

Abraham  D.  Slatoff 

Julius  C.  Smith 

William  Smith 

M.  G.  Smolensky 

George  Solomon 

Leo  M.  Solomon 

Isadore  Sondheim 

Merle  Spandau 

Maurice  R.  Spear 

Louis  Spector 

Leon  Spitz 

Jacob  Sterrman 

William  H.  Stein 

Alexander  A.  Steinbach 

Joseph  Steiner 

Henry  Steiner 

Bernard  J.  Stem 

Frank  Stern 

Henry  W.  Stern 

Maurice  L.  Stern 

Harry  Sternfield 

William  Stemseher 

Samuel  Stickle 

Joseph  S.  Stovin 

Henry  A.  Strauss 

Joseph  Strauss 

Sidney  Strauss 
♦Maurice  Suravitz 

L.  Suskyn 

Nathaniel  Suzmer 

J.  J.  Taubenhaus 


Morris  Teller 
Sidney  A.  Thorman 
Benjamin  A,  Tintner 
Jacob  Tarshish 
Jacob  Turner 
Henry  Unger 
Leon  Urbach 
Arthur  Van  Kleef 
Hartog  Veld 
L.  L.  Vogel 
L  Warsaw 
Jacob  Wattenmaker 
Victor  M.  Weil 
Alex  S.  Weinberg 
Harry  E.  Weinberg 
Edwin  S.  Weiner 
Jack  Weinstein 
Jacob  Weiss 
Maurice  Weiss 
William  Welber 
Harvey  Wessel 
Simon  Wienir 
Nathan  Wilchins 
I.  J.  Williams 
Harold  S.  Wiseman 
Bernard  Wolf 
Sol.  M.  Wolffson 
Joseph  A.  Wolf 
Chas.  Wortzman 
Aaron  Yaffe 
Jack  Yellen 
H.L.  Young 
Isadore  Zackheim 
William  ZiflF 
Samuel  Zuckerman 
Jacob  Bashin 
Leo  C.  Baum 
Lazarus  J.  Brother 
Jacob  S.  Cooley 
Nathan  I.  Diamond 
Edward  Fauer 
Joseph  K.  Feingold 
Jacob  Rosen  Freifeld 
James  H.  Coller 
David  Heilbrun 
William  V.Joel 
Benjamin  Rosenthal 
Jacob  S.  Stone 


*Also  member  of  Central  Office  StaflF. 


124  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD, 


COMMUNITY  BRANCHES  OF  THE  JEWISH  WELFARE 
BOARD  AND  CHAIRMEN 


Akron,  Ohio Maurice  Krohngold 

Albany,  New  York A.  P.  Lewis 

Alexandria,  Louisiana Mrs.  M.  Heyman 

Alexandria,  Virginia Leopold  Rushan 

Allentown,    Pennsylvania M.  L,  Fecheimer 

Altoona,  Pennsylvania Isaiah  Scheeline 

Anniston,  Alabama Mortimer  S.  Sterne 

Asheville,  North  Carolina Julius  Lowenbein 

Atlanta,  Georgia M.  F.  Goldstein 

Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey Harry  Cassman 

Auburn  &  Lewiston,  Maine A.  Mandelston 

Augusta,  Georgia Aaron  Silver 

Austin,  Texas Joe  Koen 

Baltimore,    Maryland William  Levy 

Battle  Creek,  Michigan Sol  Rosenfeld 

Bay  City,  Michigan Edward  Lichtig 

Bayonne,  New  Jersey Sam  S.  Cohen 

Bethlehem,    Pennsylvania J.  G.  Beilin 

Boston,  Massachusetts Carl  Dreyfus 

Bridgeport,   Connecticut J.  B.  Klein 

Brockton,   Massachusetts Abraham  J.  Freedman 

Brooklyn,  New  York Adolph  Feldblum 

Brooklyn  Women's  Branch, 

New  York Mrs,  Slomka 

Brownsville,   Texas A.  Ashamine 

Bryan,  Texas Joe  Gelber 

Buffalo,  New  York Rudolph  J.  Warner 

Burlington,    Vermont Charles  Levin 

Butte,   Montana William  Meyer 

Camden,  New  Jersey Mayer  Segal 

Canton,  Ohio Herbert  Strauss 

Carlisle,   Pennsylvania Charles  Berg 

Charlotte,  North  Carolina Will  Weill 

Charleston,  South  Carolina Leo  Wctherhorn 

Chattanooga,  Tennessee Paul  Heyman 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming Louis  Lipson 

Chicago,  Illinois M.  E.  Greenebaum 

Chillicothe,  Ohio Sam  L.  Segal 

Cincinnati,  Ohio Harry  Hoffheimer 

Cleveland,  Ohio Louis  Wolsey 

Columbia,  South  Carolina August  Kohn 

Columbus,  Georgia F.  L.  Rosenthal 

Columbus,   Ohio ; .  Max  Topper 


COMMUNITY  BRANCHES  125 


Corpus  Christi,  Texas Alex  Weil 

Dallas,  Texas H.  S.  Scheline 

Dayton,  Ohio S.  G.  Kusworm 

Denver,    Colorado C.  E.  H.  Kauvar 

Des  Moines,  Iowa David  Oransky 

Detroit,  Michigan Fred  Butzel 

Dover,  New  Jersey Samuel  G.  Meyerson 

Douglas,  Arizona David  Benshimol 

Easton,  Pennsylvania David  Levy 

Elmira,  New  York Nathan  Bimberg 

El  Paso,  Texas Samuel  Given 

Erie,  Pennsylvania Henry  L.  Zacks 

Far  Rockaway,  New  York Isaac  Landman 

Fitchburg,  Massachusetts Lewis  Rome 

Flint,  Michigan Harry  Winegarden 

Fort  Wayne,  Indiana Mrs.  Frieda  Strauss 

Fort  Worth,  Texas George  Fox 

Fredericksburg,    Virginia David  Hirsh 

Gary,  Indiana J.  Propper 

Grand  Rapids,  Michigan G.  A.  Wolf 

Greensboro,  North  Carolina Sidney  J.  Stern 

Greenville,  South  Carolina Alexander  Meyer 

Gulf  port,   Mississippi LB.  Rau 

Harrisburg,   Pennsylvania Henry  C.  Claster 

Hartford,  Connecticut Maurice  Hartman 

Hattiesburg,   Mississippi Herman  Katz 

High  Point,  North  Carolina...  Philip  A.  Silver 

Hoboken,  New  Jersey Herman  Geismar 

Holyoke,  Massachusetts Jacob  L,  Barowsky 

Houston,  Texas Meyer  C.  Wagner 

Indianapolis,  Indiana Morris  M.  Feuerlicht 

Jacksonville,    Florida Emil  Bernstein 

Jackson,  Michigan J.  B.  Wolf 

Kalamazoo,  Michigan Sam  Folz 

Kansas  City,  Missouri Samuel  Loebenstein 

Kenosha,  Wisconsin J.  D.  Rosenblum 

Kingston,  New  York Morris  Kaplan 

Knoxville,  Tennessee I.  Winick 

Lafayette,  Indiana Mrs.  Moses  Schultz 

Lakewood,  New  York Abraham  Jacobson 

Lancaster,   Pennsylvania Edward  Rosenstein 

Laredo,   Texas Ferdinand  Wormser 

Lincoln,   Nebraska Jacob  Singer 

Little  Rock.  Arkansas Theodore  D.  Abeles 

Los  Angeles,  California E.  M.  Reise 

Lowell,  Massachusetts Solomon  Baker 

Louisville,  Kentucky Benj.  S.  Washer 

Macon,  Georgia Morris  Michael 

Madison,  Wisconsin L.  B.  Wolfenson 


126  JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD 


Manchester,  New  Hampshire..  Abraham  Machinist 

Marion,  Ohio Henry  Strelitz 

McKeesport,  Pennsylvania Joseph  H.  Ruben 

Meriden,  Connecticut Nathan  I.  Dimond 

Meridian,   Mississippi A.  Brill 

Middletown,  New  York L.  Stem 

Middletown,  Ohio Ed.  Hirsch 

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin Chas.  Levi 

ll:"SSir°^    i  MaunceWoW 

Montgomery,   Alabama Chas.  F.  Moritz     . 

Monmouth  County, 

Long  Branch,  N.  J.    ) 

Red  Bank,  N.  J.         V  Isaac  Berger 

Asbury  Park,  N.  J.    ) 

Montpelier  &  Barre,  Vermont. .  Isaac  Aaron 

Nashua,  New  Hampshire M.  M.  Kaplan 

Nashville,   Tennessee Leopold  Jones 

Newark,  New  Jersey. Felix  Fuld 

New  Castle,  Pennsylvania Marcus  Feuchtwanger 

New  London,  Connecticut Perry  J.  Hollandersky 

New  Orleans,  Louisiana Ralph  J.  Schwarz 

Newport  News,  Virginia Sol  Peyser 

New  Rochelle,  New  York Lewis  K.  Goldman 

New  York,  New  York Leon  L.  Watters 

New  York  Teachers  Branch,  ^.     xr  r>i,™ 

New  York ^^^^  ^'  ^'""^ 

Niagara  Falls,  New  York Ben.  Friedman 

Norfolk,  Virginia Moe  Levy 

Norwich,  Connecticut Herman  Alof  sin 

Nyack,  New  York Benj.  Levison 

Oklahoma  City,  Oklahoma LB.  Levy 

Omaha,  Nebraska Harry  Lapidus 

Patchogue,  New  York Alfred  Blum 

Paterson,  New  Jersey Abraham  Wolf 

Pensacola,  Florida Morris  Levy 

Peoria,  Illinois W.  B.  Woolner 

Perth  Amboy,  New  Jersey Chas.  I.  Silk 

Petersberg,  Virginia Sol  Cooper 

Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania Leon  Obermayer 

Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania Leonard  S.  Levin 

Pittsfield,  Massachusetts George  A.  Newman 

Phoepus  &  Hampton,  Virginia.  M.  S.  Cooper 

Plattsburgh,  New  York Julius  Mendelsohn 

Portland,  Maine Samuel  Rosenberg 

Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire..  Mrs.  S.  M.  Cohen 

Portland,  Oregon Joseph  Simon 

Portsmouth,  Ohio Henry  Atlas 

Racine,  Wisconsin Mrs.  David  Winter 


COMMUNITY  ^BRANCHES  127 


Rahway,  New  Jersey Sidney  Harris 

Reading,  Pennsylvania S.  S.  Schweriner 

Richmond,  Virginia H.  T.  Ezekiel 

Rochester,  New  York Horace  J.  Wolf 

Rockf ord,  Illinois Arthur  E.  Schulein 

Rockland,  Maine Mrs.  Simon  Rosenberg 

Rome,  New  York M.  Gardner 

Saginaw,  Michigan A.  D.  Phillip 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah L.  Marcus 

San  Antonio,  Texas Morris  Stern 

San  Diego,  California Jacob  Weinberger 

San  Francisco,  California M.  C.  Sloss 

San  Jose,  California J.  H.  Dasteel 

Scranton,  Pennsylvania A.B.Cohen 

Seattle,  Washington M.  S.  Bornstein 

Shreveport,   Louisiana Meyer  Benson 

Silver  City,  New  Mexico Mrs.  Eli  Borenstein 

South  Bend,  Indiana Mrs.  Maurice  J.  Goldberg 

Spartenburg,  South  Carolina...  I.  H.  Greenwald 

Springfield,  Illinois Albert  Meyers 

Springfield,  Massachusetts Samuel  Price 

Springfield,  Ohio Justin  Altschul 

Stamford,  Connecticut Albert  Philips 

Staten  Island,  New  York A.  Greenwald 

St.  Joseph,  Missouri Morris  Mayer 

St.  Louis,  Missouri Moses  Schoenberg 

Syracuse,  New  York William  Rubin 

Tacoma,  Washington Mrs.  Lee  Lewis 

Tarrytown  &  North  Tarry- 
town  Branch,  New  York...  Abe  Edelson 

Terre  Haute,  Indiana Isaac  Goodman 

Toledo,  Ohio Lou  Frank 

Utica,  New  York Mrs.  P.  J.  Galinsky 

Trenton,  New  Jersey Nathaniel  H.  Koplin 

Troy,  New  York Joseph  Hormatz 

Vicksburg,  Mississippi Joseph  Hirsh 

Waco,  Texas Abe  Alexander 

Washington,  D.  C Milton  Strasburger 

Waterbury,  Connecticut Herman  J.  Weisman 

Waukegan,  Illinois Sam  Schwartz 

Wilkes  Barre,  Pennsylvania J.  K.  Weitzenkorn 

Wilmington,  Delaware David  Snellenberg 

Worcester,  Massachusetts Archibald  M.  Hillman 

Youngstown,  Ohio Max  E.  Brunswick 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
--      .                        STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL   BE  ASSESSED    FOR    FAILURE  TO    RETURN 
THIS    BOOK   ON    THE    DATE   DUE.    THE   PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY     AND     TO     $1.00     ON     THE     SEVENTH     DAY 
OVERDUE. 

FEB    8   1935 

$EP12  135G     4 

RECEIVLD 

AUG  2  9 '66 -3  PM 

•  /-».  A  Ki  rM-'OT 

LOAN  P&ri» 

DEC  11 1987 

i 

mm  DE.ciuwS7 

LD  21-100m-8,'34 

461759 

'"V  ^3  ^7 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


CD0MQ7blb1 


■^-.i-'M'-'M-^i' 


